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Broken Tides #1
Breakwater
Mermaids. Murder. Mayhem.
A red tide is rising.
As the daughter of one of the mer-king’s trusted advisors, seventeen-year-old Jade has great responsibilities. When her fiancé murders a naiad, plunging the underwater city of Thessalonike into uproar, tensions surge between the mer and the naiads. Jade learns too late that the choices she makes ripple further than she'd ever imagined. And as she fights against the tide of anger in a city that lives for scandal, she discovers danger lurking in every canal, imperiling her family and shattering the ocean's fragile peace.
Can the city's divisions be mended before the upwelling of hate rips apart everything Jade loves?
A red tide is rising.
As the daughter of one of the mer-king’s trusted advisors, seventeen-year-old Jade has great responsibilities. When her fiancé murders a naiad, plunging the underwater city of Thessalonike into uproar, tensions surge between the mer and the naiads. Jade learns too late that the choices she makes ripple further than she'd ever imagined. And as she fights against the tide of anger in a city that lives for scandal, she discovers danger lurking in every canal, imperiling her family and shattering the ocean's fragile peace.
Can the city's divisions be mended before the upwelling of hate rips apart everything Jade loves?
240 pages, Paperback
First published May 30, 2017
410 people are currently reading
1800 people want to read
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November 15, 2023
3.5 stars
November 1, 2020
Oh. My. Goodness.
This is exactly the kind of Christian-produced fantasy I'm ever searching to read:
- A unique fantasy world with awesome settings and believable cultural worldbuilding?
- Characters who aren't predictable and yet are always authentic as to who they're supposed to be?
- A plot featuring a number of unique and unexpected twists that keep the story constantly moving?
- And, most importantly, relevant themes and thematic questions that are difficult, painful, and yet utterly important for living life well in a messy society?
This book checks all those boxes, and I adore it. I shouldn't have gotten it on Kindle because now I'm going to have to go out and get it in paperback because it was that good and I want the whole trilogy now.
Talk about a gut-wrenching and utterly entertaining read.
Highly recommended.
Rating: 4.5 Stars (Excellent).
This is exactly the kind of Christian-produced fantasy I'm ever searching to read:
- A unique fantasy world with awesome settings and believable cultural worldbuilding?
- Characters who aren't predictable and yet are always authentic as to who they're supposed to be?
- A plot featuring a number of unique and unexpected twists that keep the story constantly moving?
- And, most importantly, relevant themes and thematic questions that are difficult, painful, and yet utterly important for living life well in a messy society?
This book checks all those boxes, and I adore it. I shouldn't have gotten it on Kindle because now I'm going to have to go out and get it in paperback because it was that good and I want the whole trilogy now.
Talk about a gut-wrenching and utterly entertaining read.
Highly recommended.
Rating: 4.5 Stars (Excellent).
May 26, 2017
Publication date May 30, 2017
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Jade is the daughter of one of the mer-king's closest advisers. Growing up in a life of privilege and opulence, she knows little of struggle and inequality---other than the fact that her father was killed trying to fight it.
Engaged to Tor, she prepares for her future with him---until she stumbles upon him in the courtyard, holding a dead naiad girl.
Forced to decide whether to believe his story, or turn him in for the crime which he admits to, Jade is thrust into the world of politics, where privilege and blind eyes are everywhere. With her beloved city on the cusp of war, she grapples with the truth of what is really going on in Thessalonike.
----------------------------------------
I think it's worth mentioning: I dare you to stare at the cover for a while.
I just dare you...
It's beautiful!
On to the review.
How cruel power, prosperity, and position can be. It is cruel enough to evoke racism, slavery, and trafficking.
This story speaks loudly about the injustices of racism and prejudice. In Breakwater, the two races who coexist in Thessalonike are the Mer and Naiads. Mer have resided in Thessalonike for eons, but the Naiads had been taken in as refugees after being forced from their river-homes.
Things that I liked
#1 The scandal. Although simple, it was well done---so well done, that it took away from the rest of the story.
#2 The idioms. Even though they are small, and sometimes quirky, I loved them. A few examples were: "the elephant in the room," replaced by a "blue whale," and as often said inappropriately in our culture today, "thank God" was instead "thank the tide." Sometimes these small changes in a story bring the world-building full circle for me. I did still want to see more description, but this helped.
#3 The cliffhanger was completely unexpected! I'm curious to see where this tail (haha---get it?) will go.
#4 This book is great at walking in the shoes of others. Even in the smallest of versions. In a scene, Jade is talking to her younger brother, Benjamin, and asks how he is after their family has become central to gossip because of Jade's accusations against Tor. He replies:
I'm not certain why this interaction struck me so. Maybe because it shows the influence an event can have on each and every person, not just the people directly involved. I think it did a good job at---even if not capturing fully---glimpsing each party's direct or indirect involvement.
Things that I didn't like:
#1 Character names varied so widely in this book. From Maximus to Jade, to...George? I felt like it didn't help the novel to flow together because when I think of a name like Maximus, and then compare it to George---they just don't go well together. It's like a mix of ancient world, the 50's era, and contemporary. This is more of a personal preference, and some people may be entirely fine with the variety. I just didn't care for it.
#2 The character development was lacking. As stated earlier, the main topic of this story was discussed majority of the time, and I felt that it pulled attention away from getting to know the characters more. We are privy to Jade's inner-workings more than anyone else---but I still felt like she needed more complexity. However, I was glad that her character did develop after the instance with Tor. I felt that she went from a silly, conceded teen to, this-is-real-now-young-adult.
#3 I liked the world-building to the point that it took the reader, but this was another area where I wanted to see more of. I wanted to understand the explore the breakwater further, and to get to know more about the history and cultural differences between the races themselves.
#4 The romance/not-so-love-triangle was "meh" to me. I don't think the story benefited from it much, and made it obsolete for me.
Overall, it was a good read for the lesson to which it offers. Especially for present times and valid for all peoples being aware of prejudices and inequality and how they effect members of society is imperative.
Sexual content: Minimal.
Vulgarity: Besides some what I deemed to be derogatory terms in Mer and Naiad tongue, there were none.
Violence: There was some, but it was non-descriptive and didn't bother me.
3.5 stars.
A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I was already seen as a naiad-lover.
Jade is the daughter of one of the mer-king's closest advisers. Growing up in a life of privilege and opulence, she knows little of struggle and inequality---other than the fact that her father was killed trying to fight it.
Engaged to Tor, she prepares for her future with him---until she stumbles upon him in the courtyard, holding a dead naiad girl.
Forced to decide whether to believe his story, or turn him in for the crime which he admits to, Jade is thrust into the world of politics, where privilege and blind eyes are everywhere. With her beloved city on the cusp of war, she grapples with the truth of what is really going on in Thessalonike.
----------------------------------------
I think it's worth mentioning: I dare you to stare at the cover for a while.
I just dare you...
It's beautiful!
On to the review.
How cruel power, prosperity, and position can be. It is cruel enough to evoke racism, slavery, and trafficking.
This story speaks loudly about the injustices of racism and prejudice. In Breakwater, the two races who coexist in Thessalonike are the Mer and Naiads. Mer have resided in Thessalonike for eons, but the Naiads had been taken in as refugees after being forced from their river-homes.
Things that I liked
#1 The scandal. Although simple, it was well done---so well done, that it took away from the rest of the story.
#2 The idioms. Even though they are small, and sometimes quirky, I loved them. A few examples were: "the elephant in the room," replaced by a "blue whale," and as often said inappropriately in our culture today, "thank God" was instead "thank the tide." Sometimes these small changes in a story bring the world-building full circle for me. I did still want to see more description, but this helped.
#3 The cliffhanger was completely unexpected! I'm curious to see where this tail (haha---get it?) will go.
#4 This book is great at walking in the shoes of others. Even in the smallest of versions. In a scene, Jade is talking to her younger brother, Benjamin, and asks how he is after their family has become central to gossip because of Jade's accusations against Tor. He replies:
"No, I'll be fine. I haven't been through nearly as much as you have."
"Doesn't mean it isn't hard," I said.
I'm not certain why this interaction struck me so. Maybe because it shows the influence an event can have on each and every person, not just the people directly involved. I think it did a good job at---even if not capturing fully---glimpsing each party's direct or indirect involvement.
Things that I didn't like:
#1 Character names varied so widely in this book. From Maximus to Jade, to...George? I felt like it didn't help the novel to flow together because when I think of a name like Maximus, and then compare it to George---they just don't go well together. It's like a mix of ancient world, the 50's era, and contemporary. This is more of a personal preference, and some people may be entirely fine with the variety. I just didn't care for it.
#2 The character development was lacking. As stated earlier, the main topic of this story was discussed majority of the time, and I felt that it pulled attention away from getting to know the characters more. We are privy to Jade's inner-workings more than anyone else---but I still felt like she needed more complexity. However, I was glad that her character did develop after the instance with Tor. I felt that she went from a silly, conceded teen to, this-is-real-now-young-adult.
#3 I liked the world-building to the point that it took the reader, but this was another area where I wanted to see more of. I wanted to understand the explore the breakwater further, and to get to know more about the history and cultural differences between the races themselves.
#4 The romance/not-so-love-triangle was "meh" to me. I don't think the story benefited from it much, and made it obsolete for me.
Overall, it was a good read for the lesson to which it offers. Especially for present times and valid for all peoples being aware of prejudices and inequality and how they effect members of society is imperative.
Sexual content: Minimal.
Vulgarity: Besides some what I deemed to be derogatory terms in Mer and Naiad tongue, there were none.
Violence: There was some, but it was non-descriptive and didn't bother me.
3.5 stars.
A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book!
May 27, 2017
**I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review!**
Can we start with this cover *swoon* SOOOO beautiful! I love it!!! I am an absolute cover snob, and this shiny beacon caught my attention right away!
In addition to a beautiful cover, Breakwater was a great book. It has a new and startlingly unique spin on mermaids, and if you haven't joined the merworld yet, this is the perfect book to get you started. I love young adult books, they are actually my goto genre, but this one was a bit too young for me. Not that it was boring or prude, but I definitely would rate it G to PG, I would love for my 13-year-old daughter to read Breakwater. It's a positive influence for a young girl and would think they can get more out this than a 30-year-old like myself, but I'm glad I got the chance to read it anyways.
I'm very excited to see what Catherine Jones Payne has in store for us next!
Happy reading!!
Can we start with this cover *swoon* SOOOO beautiful! I love it!!! I am an absolute cover snob, and this shiny beacon caught my attention right away!
In addition to a beautiful cover, Breakwater was a great book. It has a new and startlingly unique spin on mermaids, and if you haven't joined the merworld yet, this is the perfect book to get you started. I love young adult books, they are actually my goto genre, but this one was a bit too young for me. Not that it was boring or prude, but I definitely would rate it G to PG, I would love for my 13-year-old daughter to read Breakwater. It's a positive influence for a young girl and would think they can get more out this than a 30-year-old like myself, but I'm glad I got the chance to read it anyways.
I'm very excited to see what Catherine Jones Payne has in store for us next!
Happy reading!!
April 9, 2018
Okay, so I thought I was going to rate this book five stars. Because ... mermaids! This amazing underwater world. Eeee! Action, excitement, intrigue, emotion, and everything! Breakwater by Catherine Jones Payne certainly was just the book to pull me out of my reading slump.
But as you can see, I didn't rate it five stars ... because I was so very disappointed in Jade and her mother for their decisions at the end of the book. *is still reeling from it all*
Breakwater is book one to a series called BROKEN TIDES. As you can probably tell from the lovely cover featuring a mermaid, it's of the speculative fiction/fantasy genre. Which I absolutely love. And Catherine Jones Payne truly did an amazing job with creating a fantastical world that was complex and believable - and best of all, underwater. *winks*
I enjoyed having Lady Jade, who I had met in the prequel novella, as the POV character. It was exciting getting into her story, and I loved that I'd read A Rising Tempest first because now I knew Alexander and some of the others before officially "meeting" them in Breakwater. I quite like Alexander. Can hardly wait to read more of him. ^_^ And I adore Kiki.
I found the mer politics/cultural issues very interesting and immersing, but some of it questionable (I'll have to continue the series to really solidify my thoughts on that). There were deep and thought-provoking ideas and lessons woven throughout. Some I liked, others I, again, questioned. Such as when a character seems to equate defending themselves against murder as giving into hate.
Also, there isn't any faith content, and that's a little disappointing for me, personally. But this series has been clean - with the exception of some use of made-up words which are supposedly merfolk swear words.
Still, I loved this book in a lot of ways. And, oh, I very much want a pet dolphin now. ^_^ I'm so intrigued to see what happens with the merfolk and naiads. Breakwater mixes a delightful, fantastical mermaid world with heavy, real-life issues, drama, and danger to create both an exciting and thought-provoking tale. I'm enthralled with how authentic the author made this world under the ocean feel. It reminded me why I adore mermaid stories so much.
Though the ending had me angry and upset, it still had me itching to read more! I can't wait to see what happens next with Jade, Alexander, Pippa, and the mer-city of Thessalonik. The politics and intrigue are deep, and hearts are definitely at risk. If you enjoy mermaid tales, be sure to pick this pick up! I'm off to read Crosscurrent.
But as you can see, I didn't rate it five stars ... because I was so very disappointed in Jade and her mother for their decisions at the end of the book. *is still reeling from it all*
Breakwater is book one to a series called BROKEN TIDES. As you can probably tell from the lovely cover featuring a mermaid, it's of the speculative fiction/fantasy genre. Which I absolutely love. And Catherine Jones Payne truly did an amazing job with creating a fantastical world that was complex and believable - and best of all, underwater. *winks*
I enjoyed having Lady Jade, who I had met in the prequel novella, as the POV character. It was exciting getting into her story, and I loved that I'd read A Rising Tempest first because now I knew Alexander and some of the others before officially "meeting" them in Breakwater. I quite like Alexander. Can hardly wait to read more of him. ^_^ And I adore Kiki.
I found the mer politics/cultural issues very interesting and immersing, but some of it questionable (I'll have to continue the series to really solidify my thoughts on that). There were deep and thought-provoking ideas and lessons woven throughout. Some I liked, others I, again, questioned. Such as when a character seems to equate defending themselves against murder as giving into hate.
Also, there isn't any faith content, and that's a little disappointing for me, personally. But this series has been clean - with the exception of some use of made-up words which are supposedly merfolk swear words.
Still, I loved this book in a lot of ways. And, oh, I very much want a pet dolphin now. ^_^ I'm so intrigued to see what happens with the merfolk and naiads. Breakwater mixes a delightful, fantastical mermaid world with heavy, real-life issues, drama, and danger to create both an exciting and thought-provoking tale. I'm enthralled with how authentic the author made this world under the ocean feel. It reminded me why I adore mermaid stories so much.
Though the ending had me angry and upset, it still had me itching to read more! I can't wait to see what happens next with Jade, Alexander, Pippa, and the mer-city of Thessalonik. The politics and intrigue are deep, and hearts are definitely at risk. If you enjoy mermaid tales, be sure to pick this pick up! I'm off to read Crosscurrent.
July 12, 2017
Alright, this was the first mermaid based book I have ever read. I looked at the cover and I was like woww I love it little did I know that I would like the story as well.
Just look at the cover
Ins’t it gorgeous???
Yeah once you have finished admiring it you can move on… take your time ^.^
Everything was new to me in this book that grabbed me since the very beginning and it did not disappoint me until the very end end. I loved the way the author displayed the main characters and focused on some issues related to discrimination, social ranking privileges and the value of the family. The relationship between Jade which is our courageous young mermaid that fights fearlessly for the things she believes in and her little brother felt so real and relatable. She would self sacrifice herself for his sake and honestly who wouldn't do the same for their sibling/s?
The world building was very very interesting despite the fact that actually I am terrified of water (yes.. it is true, but like a real warrior I embraced my destiny and enrolled into the deep waters)
The storyline was consistent full of surprises and unexpected turn of events that made me turn the pages one after another it was like I was possessed and simply could not help it. I had to devour that book (not literally though, first the book is in e-format and secondly the cover is too awesome…)
I certainly did not expected the end of the book to be so abrupt and I would definitely wait for the second one to come out and hopefully I would not die out of curiosity by then.
If you are into mermaids, political conflicts and love you must read it!!
I big thank you to NetGalley and Fathom Ink Press for this opportunity!
Just look at the cover
Ins’t it gorgeous???
Yeah once you have finished admiring it you can move on… take your time ^.^
Everything was new to me in this book that grabbed me since the very beginning and it did not disappoint me until the very end end. I loved the way the author displayed the main characters and focused on some issues related to discrimination, social ranking privileges and the value of the family. The relationship between Jade which is our courageous young mermaid that fights fearlessly for the things she believes in and her little brother felt so real and relatable. She would self sacrifice herself for his sake and honestly who wouldn't do the same for their sibling/s?
The world building was very very interesting despite the fact that actually I am terrified of water (yes.. it is true, but like a real warrior I embraced my destiny and enrolled into the deep waters)
The storyline was consistent full of surprises and unexpected turn of events that made me turn the pages one after another it was like I was possessed and simply could not help it. I had to devour that book (not literally though, first the book is in e-format and secondly the cover is too awesome…)
I certainly did not expected the end of the book to be so abrupt and I would definitely wait for the second one to come out and hopefully I would not die out of curiosity by then.
If you are into mermaids, political conflicts and love you must read it!!
I big thank you to NetGalley and Fathom Ink Press for this opportunity!
March 28, 2017
**3.5 snap-yo-fin-stars**
Honestly, I'm still on the wall with this. I love the cover to pieces, but reading this book made me realize that this could have been so much better.
I know I've been putting RTC on the last few reviews, but this one I will really need to think on... maybe read again since I don't remember half of the book. *sigh*
May 14, 2022
Well this was a nice change from my regular contemporary romance books!
A YA mermaid story that follows a 17 year old mermaid who is engaged to a merman. She catches him in manslaughter basically and reports it to the king. Things go cray cray in mermaid society after that. It was fun! It went very political and lots of riots so it was intense, but very well done! I'd read the next book for sure!
It was clean. No swear words. Would recommend!
A YA mermaid story that follows a 17 year old mermaid who is engaged to a merman. She catches him in manslaughter basically and reports it to the king. Things go cray cray in mermaid society after that. It was fun! It went very political and lots of riots so it was intense, but very well done! I'd read the next book for sure!
It was clean. No swear words. Would recommend!
July 23, 2017
*** Disclaimer: I received a copy from the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review ***
Hey Book Peeps
I made a request for this e-arc from Netgalley at a time when I didn't know what I wanted to read. When I saw the cover I was intrigued because the last mermaid themed book I read was Deep Blue which I, surprisingly, came to like. So much so that I read the entires series so with that thought in mind I wondered if lightening could strike twice?.......... As a heads up, it can't. It really can't. This book suffered in two major areas which were world building and character development. If one of these is impacted, your story is in danger but when both of them are affected, your book is heading for an iceberg.
Lets start with the world building or lack there of. This mermaid society is a monarchy with a nobility case and a refugee class. The whole premise of this book is that there is unrest with the refugee class and that there is a possible rebellion happening when an event takes place that our main character, Jade, is a part of. Now the thing is when you write a story with such a heavy political lean you need to explain the hierarchy of the society and you need to show the suffering and mistreatment of the oppressed. In this story Jade is a noble by birth and she is referred to as Lady Jade but you don't know where she stacks in terms of rank in her society. Her mom is an advisor to the king but I can't tell you how or on what topic she councils to specifically. Her rank and position is never fully explained and it is important to know because it would've given us an idea where she stood in the scheme of things once the plot starts to develop. Without knowing how much influence Jade's family actually had in this society, you don't fully understand all the motives of the family members.
Without even a partial understanding of the noble hierarchy you don't get to see how they live and you are not able to compare it fully to the lives of the refugees. The book should have had a second prospective from the refugee side that really gave you an inside look at the political climate over there. I felt like the refugees were a random group that the author just threw in to be the victims in the story. I didn't feel any personal conflict between the two peoples that made any of the claims of strife between them even remotely believable. When one of the refugees is killed by a noble it is suppose to spark something and you, as the reader, should feel the heat of the spark and anticipate the drama that will unfold but you are never given that. You are given half ass moments of stirring insurrection but not based on anything the refugees are doing. No they are all based on Lady Jade and the scandal it is bringing to her family and the nobility as a whole.
This brings me to the second point; the character development. Firstly there are to many unimportant characters and not enough distinction between the voices of everyone present. I still can't tell you how many younger siblings Jade has. I know there is one boy child for sure and another one that is named a lot but I am unsure if they are a family member or a servant. The elimination of some of these side characters would have been great so that we could get a better and fuller picture without all these useless interactions that amounted to nothing and didn't move the plot forward at all.
The most offending thing of this topic is how it applies to the main character and her family. Jade was such a flip floppy character. Not in a "unreliable narrator" type way but in a "I-don't-know- what-stereotype-I-wanna-be-so-let-me-try-to-be-all-of-them-at-different-points-of-the- book" type. I mean she started out like the spoiled brat and then went on to be the social activist and then she tried to be a rebel / badass etc. It was just all over the place!!! And it is not to say that a character can't go through all of those stages but they have to grow through them. These attributes just seemed to get turned on depending what the author wanted to do in that chapter and be gone for the rest of the storyline. Because of this I didn't believe in the main character and anything she was trying to do to quell the so called "tensions" between the people. Her mother's characterization was not as out of control as Jade's was but our impression of her, which was given to us by Jade initially, conflicted with the actions that her mother was taking during the whole story. Like she wanted Jade to be a strong independent mermaid but she needed her to make a good match in society to uphold their position. It was just ridiculously hypercritical a lot of the time.
There was a love interest in this story as well but it wasn't believable and in the end he was to good for Jade because she was to self involved to think about his feelings. I am actually glad he didn't end up with her because he is too loyal for his own good.
In the end I just wanted so much more from this book and the only reason it has a 2 star rating is because the grammar was pretty good and the plot had some good bones but it needs a lot of work. This is not a mermaid read I'd recommend.
Happy Reading you guys
Jo
Hey Book Peeps
I made a request for this e-arc from Netgalley at a time when I didn't know what I wanted to read. When I saw the cover I was intrigued because the last mermaid themed book I read was Deep Blue which I, surprisingly, came to like. So much so that I read the entires series so with that thought in mind I wondered if lightening could strike twice?.......... As a heads up, it can't. It really can't. This book suffered in two major areas which were world building and character development. If one of these is impacted, your story is in danger but when both of them are affected, your book is heading for an iceberg.
Lets start with the world building or lack there of. This mermaid society is a monarchy with a nobility case and a refugee class. The whole premise of this book is that there is unrest with the refugee class and that there is a possible rebellion happening when an event takes place that our main character, Jade, is a part of. Now the thing is when you write a story with such a heavy political lean you need to explain the hierarchy of the society and you need to show the suffering and mistreatment of the oppressed. In this story Jade is a noble by birth and she is referred to as Lady Jade but you don't know where she stacks in terms of rank in her society. Her mom is an advisor to the king but I can't tell you how or on what topic she councils to specifically. Her rank and position is never fully explained and it is important to know because it would've given us an idea where she stood in the scheme of things once the plot starts to develop. Without knowing how much influence Jade's family actually had in this society, you don't fully understand all the motives of the family members.
Without even a partial understanding of the noble hierarchy you don't get to see how they live and you are not able to compare it fully to the lives of the refugees. The book should have had a second prospective from the refugee side that really gave you an inside look at the political climate over there. I felt like the refugees were a random group that the author just threw in to be the victims in the story. I didn't feel any personal conflict between the two peoples that made any of the claims of strife between them even remotely believable. When one of the refugees is killed by a noble it is suppose to spark something and you, as the reader, should feel the heat of the spark and anticipate the drama that will unfold but you are never given that. You are given half ass moments of stirring insurrection but not based on anything the refugees are doing. No they are all based on Lady Jade and the scandal it is bringing to her family and the nobility as a whole.
This brings me to the second point; the character development. Firstly there are to many unimportant characters and not enough distinction between the voices of everyone present. I still can't tell you how many younger siblings Jade has. I know there is one boy child for sure and another one that is named a lot but I am unsure if they are a family member or a servant. The elimination of some of these side characters would have been great so that we could get a better and fuller picture without all these useless interactions that amounted to nothing and didn't move the plot forward at all.
The most offending thing of this topic is how it applies to the main character and her family. Jade was such a flip floppy character. Not in a "unreliable narrator" type way but in a "I-don't-know- what-stereotype-I-wanna-be-so-let-me-try-to-be-all-of-them-at-different-points-of-the- book" type. I mean she started out like the spoiled brat and then went on to be the social activist and then she tried to be a rebel / badass etc. It was just all over the place!!! And it is not to say that a character can't go through all of those stages but they have to grow through them. These attributes just seemed to get turned on depending what the author wanted to do in that chapter and be gone for the rest of the storyline. Because of this I didn't believe in the main character and anything she was trying to do to quell the so called "tensions" between the people. Her mother's characterization was not as out of control as Jade's was but our impression of her, which was given to us by Jade initially, conflicted with the actions that her mother was taking during the whole story. Like she wanted Jade to be a strong independent mermaid but she needed her to make a good match in society to uphold their position. It was just ridiculously hypercritical a lot of the time.
There was a love interest in this story as well but it wasn't believable and in the end he was to good for Jade because she was to self involved to think about his feelings. I am actually glad he didn't end up with her because he is too loyal for his own good.
In the end I just wanted so much more from this book and the only reason it has a 2 star rating is because the grammar was pretty good and the plot had some good bones but it needs a lot of work. This is not a mermaid read I'd recommend.
Happy Reading you guys
Jo
May 2, 2018
DNF – 51%
I'm not a person who DNFs books lightly – I make it a point to push through as much as possible but I have a breaking point, I really do. And I admit I'm a person who suffers from being intrigued by books with gorgeous covers – the term "don't judge a book by its cover," however, is a good warning I should have heeded in the opposite sense of what it means. This book, for me, failed miserably in several areas of what I think makes a book good.
The concept was great; it had the foundations to be a great story – with political intrigue and opposing classes (between nobility/well-to-do mermaids and the refugee naiads). The unrest between the two classes is probably the only interesting part I found about this book after I managed to push myself passed 15% – but even then, this world building was lacking. Jade, our main character, is part of the nobility class but there is no specific exploration as to where in the hierarchy of this world she stands – sure, her mother is an advisor to the king, but an advisor of what (apart from trying to improve naiad/mer relations)? How much power does this family have? Without this information, it's difficult to decide on how Jade and her family settle into this hierarchy in the first place, particularly as we don't see points of views from the opposite class.
Albeit, I only got to just past halfway in this book – but it took me forever to get to where I decided to give up. Jade as a character was, for me, kind of two-dimensional and flat – maybe even a little bit childish and innocent – which may have worked better in her story arc if there'd been an alternative character POV to contrast this ignorance. I felt very displaced – and that's because of the main character.
And don't get me started on all the side characters; why were there so many? There was that one character who was with Jade's family a lot but don't ask me why he was there, what his purpose was or his name – would have been nice to have a bit more depth in explanation as to why characters were relevant in the first place (even if it was just a little bit of info that threw the reader off a scent). [again, I DNF'd this at 51%, I have no idea how this book ended because I couldn't find the motivation to get past what I did not like about this book.]
The characters that were less relevant to the story, or not even relevant at all, would have been better omitted to showcase the actual storyline better. The interactions they had with Jade made me want to put the book away because the book wasn't moving forward with it at all and there was no point to them.
The pace was jumpy. I'm all for immediately bringing in a plot point that spurs the story on but because of this (right at the beginning), the story lacked that world building instead. Sure, I get that it needed to happen because it's the point of the story where stuff starts actually happening but it was a bit of a whiplash ride for me that then slowed down completely (because of those extra character interactions mostly), then spiked a little, then dimmed.
There's good-story-pace rollercoasters, but then there's just rolling-down-a-hill-in-a-hamster-ball-and-flying-all-of-the-place-inside ride (like in those hamster balls in Jurassic World? Yeah, that's what it felt like for me – just in the first half of the book). It was a bit disorientating and when I closed the book, I couldn't bring myself to pick it up again – I tried for almost 3 weeks now and I really don't think it's going anywhere (and there was the introduction to hinted romances when I stopped, and I loved romance).
Maybe one day I'll try again because some people really absolutely seemed to love this book and I hate that I didn't like this because I was expecting so much. Not high on my recommendations for mermaid books, but I'm not gonna tell you not to give it a go – you might see potential in it that I don't.
Wondering why I still gave it 2 stars? The writing itself wasn't bad and neither was the concept – it just wasn't well-executed together, if that makes sense. Also the cover I think deserves about half a star. So yeah, 2 out of 5 it is.
Edit: I did not DNF this book because there was a character with the same name from a different series. I actually completely forgot that that was the last update in my reading because it had been so long.
•
This was an eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm not a person who DNFs books lightly – I make it a point to push through as much as possible but I have a breaking point, I really do. And I admit I'm a person who suffers from being intrigued by books with gorgeous covers – the term "don't judge a book by its cover," however, is a good warning I should have heeded in the opposite sense of what it means. This book, for me, failed miserably in several areas of what I think makes a book good.
The concept was great; it had the foundations to be a great story – with political intrigue and opposing classes (between nobility/well-to-do mermaids and the refugee naiads). The unrest between the two classes is probably the only interesting part I found about this book after I managed to push myself passed 15% – but even then, this world building was lacking. Jade, our main character, is part of the nobility class but there is no specific exploration as to where in the hierarchy of this world she stands – sure, her mother is an advisor to the king, but an advisor of what (apart from trying to improve naiad/mer relations)? How much power does this family have? Without this information, it's difficult to decide on how Jade and her family settle into this hierarchy in the first place, particularly as we don't see points of views from the opposite class.
Albeit, I only got to just past halfway in this book – but it took me forever to get to where I decided to give up. Jade as a character was, for me, kind of two-dimensional and flat – maybe even a little bit childish and innocent – which may have worked better in her story arc if there'd been an alternative character POV to contrast this ignorance. I felt very displaced – and that's because of the main character.
And don't get me started on all the side characters; why were there so many? There was that one character who was with Jade's family a lot but don't ask me why he was there, what his purpose was or his name – would have been nice to have a bit more depth in explanation as to why characters were relevant in the first place (even if it was just a little bit of info that threw the reader off a scent). [again, I DNF'd this at 51%, I have no idea how this book ended because I couldn't find the motivation to get past what I did not like about this book.]
The characters that were less relevant to the story, or not even relevant at all, would have been better omitted to showcase the actual storyline better. The interactions they had with Jade made me want to put the book away because the book wasn't moving forward with it at all and there was no point to them.
The pace was jumpy. I'm all for immediately bringing in a plot point that spurs the story on but because of this (right at the beginning), the story lacked that world building instead. Sure, I get that it needed to happen because it's the point of the story where stuff starts actually happening but it was a bit of a whiplash ride for me that then slowed down completely (because of those extra character interactions mostly), then spiked a little, then dimmed.
There's good-story-pace rollercoasters, but then there's just rolling-down-a-hill-in-a-hamster-ball-and-flying-all-of-the-place-inside ride (like in those hamster balls in Jurassic World? Yeah, that's what it felt like for me – just in the first half of the book). It was a bit disorientating and when I closed the book, I couldn't bring myself to pick it up again – I tried for almost 3 weeks now and I really don't think it's going anywhere (and there was the introduction to hinted romances when I stopped, and I loved romance).
Maybe one day I'll try again because some people really absolutely seemed to love this book and I hate that I didn't like this because I was expecting so much. Not high on my recommendations for mermaid books, but I'm not gonna tell you not to give it a go – you might see potential in it that I don't.
Wondering why I still gave it 2 stars? The writing itself wasn't bad and neither was the concept – it just wasn't well-executed together, if that makes sense. Also the cover I think deserves about half a star. So yeah, 2 out of 5 it is.
Edit: I did not DNF this book because there was a character with the same name from a different series. I actually completely forgot that that was the last update in my reading because it had been so long.
•
This was an eARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 21, 2017
I was super bummed that I was unable to read this book in one sitting as I wanted to, BUT each time I returned back to BREAKWATER, it pulled me right back in (no pun intended, since you know, water currents and all).
The world-building was really fascinating and loved the ways the author brings Jade's world to life. Kiki was so cool and totally made me want to have a pet dolphin! I thought it might be a little strange reading a story where everything takes place under water, but it wasn't nearly as strange as I originally thought. Plus, it's super cool to see beautiful fish come by.
One of the things I loved most about this story was the overall message. I thought it very prevalent to today and thought about how I could show the same bravery as Jade did. She consistently went against the standards of what society said she had to be and do. She truly tried to love others that were supposed to be looked down upon (due to her status) and took it upon herself to be a voice for those who couldn’t be (talk about inspiring me to use my voice to make a difference!). Even more so, I loved how she was reminded that none of the events taking place as a result of her taking a stand for another was her fault. I felt that to be so important and glad Jade was reminded of this.
The only thing I was really disappointed about was the near ending with Alexander. I don't want to give anything away, but I loved the introduction of his character and looked forward to having him back on the scene again. However, when he was I felt like he was a character who was pushed aside too quickly with no kind of say in anything (regardless of the situation).
This was a really interesting read with a powerful message of loving others and taking a stand for what's right, even if it's against what society says. Would definitely recommend this story to YA readers who are looking for something that's not "shallow" and has a “deeper” meaning.
*(I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own and was not required to write a positive review.)*
The world-building was really fascinating and loved the ways the author brings Jade's world to life. Kiki was so cool and totally made me want to have a pet dolphin! I thought it might be a little strange reading a story where everything takes place under water, but it wasn't nearly as strange as I originally thought. Plus, it's super cool to see beautiful fish come by.
One of the things I loved most about this story was the overall message. I thought it very prevalent to today and thought about how I could show the same bravery as Jade did. She consistently went against the standards of what society said she had to be and do. She truly tried to love others that were supposed to be looked down upon (due to her status) and took it upon herself to be a voice for those who couldn’t be (talk about inspiring me to use my voice to make a difference!). Even more so, I loved how she was reminded that none of the events taking place as a result of her taking a stand for another was her fault. I felt that to be so important and glad Jade was reminded of this.
The only thing I was really disappointed about was the near ending with Alexander. I don't want to give anything away, but I loved the introduction of his character and looked forward to having him back on the scene again. However, when he was I felt like he was a character who was pushed aside too quickly with no kind of say in anything (regardless of the situation).
This was a really interesting read with a powerful message of loving others and taking a stand for what's right, even if it's against what society says. Would definitely recommend this story to YA readers who are looking for something that's not "shallow" and has a “deeper” meaning.
*(I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts expressed are my own and was not required to write a positive review.)*
March 26, 2017
I have had the honor of working with Ms. Jones Payne as a developmental editor for my last two novels, so I was most excited to read her upcoming young-adult mermaid mystery. Part enchanting, underwater fantasy; part courtroom drama; and part social exploration, I found this tale wonderfully charming and kept turning the pages to find what would happen next. I didn’t expect to tear through it so quickly, but I couldn’t put it down!
Also, this book provides an approachable way to discuss the issues of prejudice and privilege (gender, class, and species) with a YA audience. I love that, and I admire that the author executes such a sensitive conversation without the trappings of appropriation or preachiness. Well done.
I enjoyed Breakwater a lot and look forward to learning what happens next in the depths (pardon my language) of the sea.
Also, this book provides an approachable way to discuss the issues of prejudice and privilege (gender, class, and species) with a YA audience. I love that, and I admire that the author executes such a sensitive conversation without the trappings of appropriation or preachiness. Well done.
I enjoyed Breakwater a lot and look forward to learning what happens next in the depths (pardon my language) of the sea.
November 15, 2023
This was a lot better than I anticipated.
In truth, I chose this because I needed a book that takes place underwater for an instagram book bingo. This was free on Audible, winning.
Did I expect the world to be so well developed?
No.
Was the story intriguing and relevant to today's racial struggles?
Surprisingly, yes.
Did it have me fully consumed all day while I listened to it.
Yuppers.
This was extremely well done and I am so stoked to continue the series.
In truth, I chose this because I needed a book that takes place underwater for an instagram book bingo. This was free on Audible, winning.
Did I expect the world to be so well developed?
No.
Was the story intriguing and relevant to today's racial struggles?
Surprisingly, yes.
Did it have me fully consumed all day while I listened to it.
Yuppers.
This was extremely well done and I am so stoked to continue the series.
March 25, 2017
Before I launch into a review, can we talk about that amazing cover?! Love!
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by Catherine Payne's Breakwater. Surprised because the first 10 minutes of the book left me skeptical. As the summary discloses, our story begins with our heroine, Jade, finding a murdered naiad in the arms of her fiancé. But before we get right into action, we catch a tiny glimpse of Jade's character through her inner monologue that gave me cause for concern.
"Of course, she’s not as well-connected as I am. I can’t assume it’s as easy for her as it was for me."
It made it hard for me to not picture Jade as Regina George from Mean Girls.
Regardless, I continued reading. To my pleasant surprise, Jade's character matures as she is forced to stand witness against her ex fiancé and aid the naiads who are facing growing animosity from the mer as a result of the murder. She loses some of that naiveté she displayed in earlier chapters when she realizes that not all is black and white. That the guilty can and do walk. The escalating hostility toward the naiads really hit home for me. You cannot help but draw parallels to the growing racial and religious conflicts in the US. The fear that turns to rage and violence. The violation of human rights.
Payne paints a beautiful story of political injustice and a heroine trying to follow in her father's footsteps to right wrongs against a community who does not merit them. The underwater world was a bit murky to me (Thessaloniki is a city in Greece, so I assume we're in or near the Mediterranean?). Pun intended. But I don't think that took away from the plot or the mystery around Anna's death, and I'm sure we will see more of this world as the series develops.
Unfortunately, I wasn't convinced of the romance between Jade and Alexander. Like Jade's relationship with Tor, we are not really privy to how and when they first fell in love. Once he comes back into her life, it felt like a switch was just turned back on and she was back in love. So I didn't really feel anything when the ending was revealed. However, I can forgive that considering the intended audience (YA).
Overall 4 stars for Breakwater! I look forward to the next installment!
I received an ARC of this book for an unbiased review courtesy of Netgalley and the publishing house
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by Catherine Payne's Breakwater. Surprised because the first 10 minutes of the book left me skeptical. As the summary discloses, our story begins with our heroine, Jade, finding a murdered naiad in the arms of her fiancé. But before we get right into action, we catch a tiny glimpse of Jade's character through her inner monologue that gave me cause for concern.
"Of course, she’s not as well-connected as I am. I can’t assume it’s as easy for her as it was for me."
It made it hard for me to not picture Jade as Regina George from Mean Girls.
Regardless, I continued reading. To my pleasant surprise, Jade's character matures as she is forced to stand witness against her ex fiancé and aid the naiads who are facing growing animosity from the mer as a result of the murder. She loses some of that naiveté she displayed in earlier chapters when she realizes that not all is black and white. That the guilty can and do walk. The escalating hostility toward the naiads really hit home for me. You cannot help but draw parallels to the growing racial and religious conflicts in the US. The fear that turns to rage and violence. The violation of human rights.
Payne paints a beautiful story of political injustice and a heroine trying to follow in her father's footsteps to right wrongs against a community who does not merit them. The underwater world was a bit murky to me (Thessaloniki is a city in Greece, so I assume we're in or near the Mediterranean?). Pun intended. But I don't think that took away from the plot or the mystery around Anna's death, and I'm sure we will see more of this world as the series develops.
Unfortunately, I wasn't convinced of the romance between Jade and Alexander. Like Jade's relationship with Tor, we are not really privy to how and when they first fell in love. Once he comes back into her life, it felt like a switch was just turned back on and she was back in love. So I didn't really feel anything when the ending was revealed. However, I can forgive that considering the intended audience (YA).
Overall 4 stars for Breakwater! I look forward to the next installment!
I received an ARC of this book for an unbiased review courtesy of Netgalley and the publishing house
April 20, 2017
I received a free ARC of Breakwater by Catherine Jones Payne from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This was an interesting read, think Law and Order with mermaids. The main focus of the story is about a trial for murder that involves the fiance of the main character. Jade is a seventeen year old mermaid who is engaged to a captain in the mer guard. At a party at her fiance’s house, she finds him holding the body of a dead naiad girl. Tor, her fiance, admits to killing the girl, and thus sets the story in motion.
The story is set in a fictional underwater city of Thessalonike. The mermaids, or mer as the author calls them, live with another two-legged race called naiads. The naiads originally come from a river kingdom, but had to leave when their river started dying. The mer of Thessalonike allowed the naiads to move into their city years ago, but they have never been equals. The naiad’s have the ability to manipulate water and even fashion their clothing from it. The mer are jealous of this ability.
When the trial starts the tensions between the mer and the naiads rise. Jade befriends Pippa, the sister of the murdered naiad. Together they try to prove that Tor is a murderer and that his family is hiding a secret.
What I liked about the story is that it had an intriguing twist for a mermaid story. The murder trial involving mermaids was interesting. The characters felt real and the dialog was great.
I wish the world building had been a little more detailed. I would like to know how the naiads are able to walk on the ocean floor. Also Jade talks about her gills, but you never really know where they are located. Just small things that could easily be fixed if there is a second book. Also the book ends on a cliff hanger. It didn’t seem like an ending to me so hopefully this is the first in a series.
This book has an expected availability date of May 30th 2017.
This was an interesting read, think Law and Order with mermaids. The main focus of the story is about a trial for murder that involves the fiance of the main character. Jade is a seventeen year old mermaid who is engaged to a captain in the mer guard. At a party at her fiance’s house, she finds him holding the body of a dead naiad girl. Tor, her fiance, admits to killing the girl, and thus sets the story in motion.
The story is set in a fictional underwater city of Thessalonike. The mermaids, or mer as the author calls them, live with another two-legged race called naiads. The naiads originally come from a river kingdom, but had to leave when their river started dying. The mer of Thessalonike allowed the naiads to move into their city years ago, but they have never been equals. The naiad’s have the ability to manipulate water and even fashion their clothing from it. The mer are jealous of this ability.
When the trial starts the tensions between the mer and the naiads rise. Jade befriends Pippa, the sister of the murdered naiad. Together they try to prove that Tor is a murderer and that his family is hiding a secret.
What I liked about the story is that it had an intriguing twist for a mermaid story. The murder trial involving mermaids was interesting. The characters felt real and the dialog was great.
I wish the world building had been a little more detailed. I would like to know how the naiads are able to walk on the ocean floor. Also Jade talks about her gills, but you never really know where they are located. Just small things that could easily be fixed if there is a second book. Also the book ends on a cliff hanger. It didn’t seem like an ending to me so hopefully this is the first in a series.
This book has an expected availability date of May 30th 2017.
May 24, 2017
I'm not a big fan of mermaids. So just opening this book was a stretch.
But I was impressed. By the end of the first chapter, the story turned from "cutesy mermaid gonna get married" to murder most foul. The main character is a teenager and is realistically presented as such. She's 17, a little naive, and trying to do the right thing, but bumbles her way into crisis after crisis, often accidentally making things worse. And yet, with all her lack of self-awareness at times, she's sympathetic, and her mistakes help flesh out an increasingly morally complex character in an equally complex world. So, kind of like Kvothe from Kingkiller Chronicles (but not nearly as clever or destructive).
After taking her time in the first chapter to briefly set up the outlines of the world, the plot moves quickly. Lightning-fast at places. And the author has a knack for ending the chapter as just the right place so you have to keep reading, which makes the book a great page-turner. I only put it down because I got interrupted. And I appreciate that pacing, because some authors (I'm looking at you, Robert Jordan, RIP) are gorgeous, but get sidetracked by world-building and describing and forget that they're telling us a story with, you know, plot.
And the plot, which strikes me as so un-mermaid-like, is what kept me going despite it being a book about mermaids. It's not about how pretty the mermaids are (though the cover is gorgeous) or cheering on a flawless protagonist who never makes/acknowledges mistakes and is boy-crazy. It's about power, prejudice, politics, and how even a seemingly idyllic kingdom under the sea has the same vices that bedevil us here above. Basically, people are people and not everything gets neatly resolved by a Deus Ex Machina or finding your true love, even for mer. For making a mermaid book that inverts the worst of mermaid tropes and is refreshingly true to life, Five Stars.
But I was impressed. By the end of the first chapter, the story turned from "cutesy mermaid gonna get married" to murder most foul. The main character is a teenager and is realistically presented as such. She's 17, a little naive, and trying to do the right thing, but bumbles her way into crisis after crisis, often accidentally making things worse. And yet, with all her lack of self-awareness at times, she's sympathetic, and her mistakes help flesh out an increasingly morally complex character in an equally complex world. So, kind of like Kvothe from Kingkiller Chronicles (but not nearly as clever or destructive).
After taking her time in the first chapter to briefly set up the outlines of the world, the plot moves quickly. Lightning-fast at places. And the author has a knack for ending the chapter as just the right place so you have to keep reading, which makes the book a great page-turner. I only put it down because I got interrupted. And I appreciate that pacing, because some authors (I'm looking at you, Robert Jordan, RIP) are gorgeous, but get sidetracked by world-building and describing and forget that they're telling us a story with, you know, plot.
And the plot, which strikes me as so un-mermaid-like, is what kept me going despite it being a book about mermaids. It's not about how pretty the mermaids are (though the cover is gorgeous) or cheering on a flawless protagonist who never makes/acknowledges mistakes and is boy-crazy. It's about power, prejudice, politics, and how even a seemingly idyllic kingdom under the sea has the same vices that bedevil us here above. Basically, people are people and not everything gets neatly resolved by a Deus Ex Machina or finding your true love, even for mer. For making a mermaid book that inverts the worst of mermaid tropes and is refreshingly true to life, Five Stars.
April 1, 2017
Breakwater plunges you in to a world inhabited by mermaids. In this underwater city of Thessalonike, social classes are held and ruled over by the King. A human like species, called the Naiad, exists as the lowest standing class of this hierarchy. This story will immerse you in to the struggle of the oppression of the Naiad and the issues of injustice from the higher classes.
Though I enjoyed Breakwater for the most part, I felt like I was missing more imagery and details about this underwater world. I wish the characters had been a bit more developed and that I would have gotten a thorough explanation of how life works under the ocean and how the Naiads are able to walk on the ocean floor. This was a quick read, and the story really caught my interest after the first few chapters, but I still felt that it lacked depth.
The character of Jade was enjoyable enough, but, again, I felt that she needed more development. She was brave and held good morals, but she didn't stand out to me enough. I would have liked to have seen more of a connection between her story and her namesake's story. I also felt that her father's story was lacking details since it was used as much of her motivation.
The story line of the love interest took an unexpected twist. The ending of the book was definitely not expected and left me believing that there will be a sequel. I enjoyed the book enough to say that I would pick up the sequel to find out what happens.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC for my honest opinion.
Though I enjoyed Breakwater for the most part, I felt like I was missing more imagery and details about this underwater world. I wish the characters had been a bit more developed and that I would have gotten a thorough explanation of how life works under the ocean and how the Naiads are able to walk on the ocean floor. This was a quick read, and the story really caught my interest after the first few chapters, but I still felt that it lacked depth.
The character of Jade was enjoyable enough, but, again, I felt that she needed more development. She was brave and held good morals, but she didn't stand out to me enough. I would have liked to have seen more of a connection between her story and her namesake's story. I also felt that her father's story was lacking details since it was used as much of her motivation.
The story line of the love interest took an unexpected twist. The ending of the book was definitely not expected and left me believing that there will be a sequel. I enjoyed the book enough to say that I would pick up the sequel to find out what happens.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC for my honest opinion.
May 2, 2017
Ok, I've been needing to get this up for awhile now. I've written it in my head several times now, but the hard part is getting it down somewhere outside my head. A big reason that I am not an aspiring author! But I promised Catherine when she sent me the book that I would review it, so here goes! Also, I strongly do not believe in spoilers, so I will do my best to keep them out of this review.
Oh my goodness, mermaids. Catherine (I sorry, I tried to call her Ms. Payne, it just didn't work in my head) crafts a lovely, colorful world full of fish and fins! But all is not well! Tensions between the mermaids and the naiads are at an all time high, and Jade, our protagonist naturally gets stuck right in the middle of it all.
First off, let me say that I read this book in a day. I could not stop. This is the first book I've read that takes place 100% underwater (other than you know... The Rainbow Fish book) and, as mentioned earlier, beautiful and full of color. I think Catherine does an excellent job of being descriptive about this world without weighing the plot down with too much information.
Looking back, probably my favorite part of this excellent read were the naiads. I think the last (and only) series I've read with naiads in it was C. S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia. I love that I got a chance to read these really cool mythical creatures fleshed out some in this book. Also, the naiads are where we get one of the major themes running through the book, that of tensions between different species. Especially given our current history, the timing is particularly apt for this topic, and while we aren't given all the answers (because, let's face it, nothing is that easy) I think Catherine does an excellent job portraying how a seventeen year old girl would think about and process these issues. (For those of you complaining about Jade and her friends being more concerned with their appearance and boys than what's going on in the world around them has clearly never been or known a seventeen year old girl.)
Another reason I love Jade is I can only think of two other fantasy series' that prominently features a more introverted female protagonist (Tamora Pierce's Beka Cooper Trilogy and The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine) and I LOVE this. It's a small thing, but being an introvert, I identify with introverts. REPRESENT! Quietly, in your own homes.
As it was a large part of the book, I am going to briefly touch on the romance. Mostly I like the romance because it works with some of the tensions between classes into the narrative more closely (not just exploring tension between species, we've got class tension too!) In most novels I can do without the romance, and this is not an exception to that rule.
Alright, so you've read my rambling review! To sum it all up, I really liked this book, you should read it, also Catherine, please give me the next one. Seriously.
Oh my goodness, mermaids. Catherine (I sorry, I tried to call her Ms. Payne, it just didn't work in my head) crafts a lovely, colorful world full of fish and fins! But all is not well! Tensions between the mermaids and the naiads are at an all time high, and Jade, our protagonist naturally gets stuck right in the middle of it all.
First off, let me say that I read this book in a day. I could not stop. This is the first book I've read that takes place 100% underwater (other than you know... The Rainbow Fish book) and, as mentioned earlier, beautiful and full of color. I think Catherine does an excellent job of being descriptive about this world without weighing the plot down with too much information.
Looking back, probably my favorite part of this excellent read were the naiads. I think the last (and only) series I've read with naiads in it was C. S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia. I love that I got a chance to read these really cool mythical creatures fleshed out some in this book. Also, the naiads are where we get one of the major themes running through the book, that of tensions between different species. Especially given our current history, the timing is particularly apt for this topic, and while we aren't given all the answers (because, let's face it, nothing is that easy) I think Catherine does an excellent job portraying how a seventeen year old girl would think about and process these issues. (For those of you complaining about Jade and her friends being more concerned with their appearance and boys than what's going on in the world around them has clearly never been or known a seventeen year old girl.)
Another reason I love Jade is I can only think of two other fantasy series' that prominently features a more introverted female protagonist (Tamora Pierce's Beka Cooper Trilogy and The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine) and I LOVE this. It's a small thing, but being an introvert, I identify with introverts. REPRESENT! Quietly, in your own homes.
As it was a large part of the book, I am going to briefly touch on the romance. Mostly I like the romance because it works with some of the tensions between classes into the narrative more closely (not just exploring tension between species, we've got class tension too!) In most novels I can do without the romance, and this is not an exception to that rule.
Alright, so you've read my rambling review! To sum it all up, I really liked this book, you should read it, also Catherine, please give me the next one. Seriously.
May 31, 2017
I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review and blog tour can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
The story of Jade and her life underwater was a very interesting one. There's politics plot to destroy and a very vivid, colorful underwater world. I liked the premise of the book, but what kept me hook to the story was the constant race against time in order to save everyone.
Needless to say the reason I also loved this book was because the underwater city where Jade lives is named Thessalonike, just like my home city in Greece!
The story of Jade and her life underwater was a very interesting one. There's politics plot to destroy and a very vivid, colorful underwater world. I liked the premise of the book, but what kept me hook to the story was the constant race against time in order to save everyone.
Needless to say the reason I also loved this book was because the underwater city where Jade lives is named Thessalonike, just like my home city in Greece!
May 30, 2017
I was able to read this book in one day. The pace was quick and the writing was easy but it failed to keep me engaged. Its not that the plot was slow but more like I wasnt completely invested. The court drama and tension between the naiads and mermaids kept me reading until the end. I think someone who hasnt read as many books as me might enjoy this more than I did because despite my issues it was a quick enjoyable read.
Ive read similar plots many times before and I totally saw the missing naiad twist coming as well as the thing that happened with her friend. The setting was a bit more unique but it lacked some world building. I wanted to know more about the history, the the antimonarchicist and the tensions between species. I did enjoy some scenes, like the dancing naiads and their water magic as well as the dolphin Kiki and how the main character found her.
The main character was naive and impulsive. She didnt make the smartest decisions. Shes considered an adult but her mother treats her like a child. Not that I necessarily blame her since she does act like a child but it often got on my nerves. Despite that I did appreciate her trying to do the right thing. She treats the naiads refugees better than most of her kin. I liked her relationship with Pippa and Alexander. She also had a cute relationship with her brother but I wish her relationships were more developped.
I appreciated the authors take on oppression. We get to see the main character of color from high class slowly start to realize how badly the refugees in her city have been treated and tries to help them. After living a sheltered life she struggles to work through her own preconceived notions of the refugees and becomes friends with some of them. Even though this didnt get a higher rating Id still recommend it if you want a quick mermaid story.
*received in exchange for an honest review*
Ive read similar plots many times before and I totally saw the missing naiad twist coming as well as the thing that happened with her friend. The setting was a bit more unique but it lacked some world building. I wanted to know more about the history, the the antimonarchicist and the tensions between species. I did enjoy some scenes, like the dancing naiads and their water magic as well as the dolphin Kiki and how the main character found her.
The main character was naive and impulsive. She didnt make the smartest decisions. Shes considered an adult but her mother treats her like a child. Not that I necessarily blame her since she does act like a child but it often got on my nerves. Despite that I did appreciate her trying to do the right thing. She treats the naiads refugees better than most of her kin. I liked her relationship with Pippa and Alexander. She also had a cute relationship with her brother but I wish her relationships were more developped.
I appreciated the authors take on oppression. We get to see the main character of color from high class slowly start to realize how badly the refugees in her city have been treated and tries to help them. After living a sheltered life she struggles to work through her own preconceived notions of the refugees and becomes friends with some of them. Even though this didnt get a higher rating Id still recommend it if you want a quick mermaid story.
*received in exchange for an honest review*
April 4, 2017
We make choices in life but sometimes we wonder if we made the right one.
Jade broke the engagement she had with Tor after seeing him hold the dead body of a naiad. He confessed and asked her not to tell anyone about the murder. She knew where her moral code would stand by.
She reported the murder to the inspector and her normal life is now turned to a nightmare. Lies, questions, violence and treachery threatens her search for the truth. Will she be strong enough to handle the situation or would she crack under pressure?
Jade is a strong character who fights for what she believes in. She’s selfless. Maybe a little too selfless. The only problem I have with her character are the risk she sometimes takes. I wish she would stop and think rationally at times.
The writing was very fluid and I liked how Jade was able to not only see but experience the discrimination the Naiads had to endure.
The plot was simply amazing and the cliff hanger at the end left me wanting to read the next book
.
Overall, It is a great book about honesty, discrimination and the consequences of our actions. I would definitely read the sequel.
I received an ARC from the publisher from Netgalley. I thank them and the publisher for sending this wonderful book to me.
April 20, 2017
I won this book in an online giveaway, in exchange for leaving an honest review on Goodreads. Thanks Catherine!!! :D :D :D
Breakwater hooked me from the start, and left me wanting more. I couldn't put it down! The main character, Jade, has to make a lot of hard decisions when she finds out her fiancee is a killer. I was especially interested in Jade and Pippa's friendship, and I hope we get more of that in the next book. No spoilers, but the ending chapters made me cry.
Breakwater hooked me from the start, and left me wanting more. I couldn't put it down! The main character, Jade, has to make a lot of hard decisions when she finds out her fiancee is a killer. I was especially interested in Jade and Pippa's friendship, and I hope we get more of that in the next book. No spoilers, but the ending chapters made me cry.
May 19, 2017
I really, really wanted to like this. I know so many mermaids, and I think there's a real lack of them in fantasy novels, but this... was unfortunately not my answer.
I think this author has potential, and would be willing to eventually read a book from her after she's had some time to edit and refine.
I think this author has potential, and would be willing to eventually read a book from her after she's had some time to edit and refine.
April 1, 2017
Great Book! Who doesn't love mermaids!? This was a fast paced and exciting read. I enjoyed the unique underwater world that was created by Payne. The characters were interesting and likeable. The book ended in a cliffhanger, and I look forward to the next book in the series.
April 3, 2020
I'm annoyed with ppl who choose duty over love.
June 1, 2017
I love the gorgeous cover for Breakwater by Catherine Joyce Payne.
Oh…to be able to fly through the sea, jump with the dolphins, skim the sandy bottom of the ocean…
The writing is spectacular, so creative and descriptive that I am able to visualize things and they play like a movie in my ming. Imagine, if you will, a feeder being surrounded by sea horses instead of hummingbirds. Your garden is full of colorful coral instead of flamboyant flowers.
A dead naiad is the reason for Jade’s wedding being cancelled…by her.
“I’m here to report a murder.” – Jade.
The murder has drawn lines in the sand and there are threats and danger at every turn.
Jade is from a high caste in the mer society, unaware of the reality of life for those less fortunate than her. She wants to do the right thing, is friendly with those from a lower caste than herself and begins to learn that there is so much more to life than she ever thought possible.
The mers are the same as us, yet different…love, hate, political intrigue, betrayal, murder..Even mers face hard choices and sacrifice.
What a fabulous storyline. I didn’t anticipate the direction Catherine Joyce Payne would take with the story and I am loving everything, amazed at the originality and detailed descriptions.
The mystery is solved, but there is so much more of the story to be told and I am curious to see how Jade grows and develops.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Breakwater by Catherine Joyce Payne.
To see more visit fundinmental
Oh…to be able to fly through the sea, jump with the dolphins, skim the sandy bottom of the ocean…
The writing is spectacular, so creative and descriptive that I am able to visualize things and they play like a movie in my ming. Imagine, if you will, a feeder being surrounded by sea horses instead of hummingbirds. Your garden is full of colorful coral instead of flamboyant flowers.
A dead naiad is the reason for Jade’s wedding being cancelled…by her.
“I’m here to report a murder.” – Jade.
The murder has drawn lines in the sand and there are threats and danger at every turn.
Jade is from a high caste in the mer society, unaware of the reality of life for those less fortunate than her. She wants to do the right thing, is friendly with those from a lower caste than herself and begins to learn that there is so much more to life than she ever thought possible.
The mers are the same as us, yet different…love, hate, political intrigue, betrayal, murder..Even mers face hard choices and sacrifice.
What a fabulous storyline. I didn’t anticipate the direction Catherine Joyce Payne would take with the story and I am loving everything, amazed at the originality and detailed descriptions.
The mystery is solved, but there is so much more of the story to be told and I am curious to see how Jade grows and develops.
I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Breakwater by Catherine Joyce Payne.
To see more visit fundinmental
May 18, 2017
This book pulls you into it's world faster then a riptide. With amazing characters and a plot full of twists and turns you will not want to put this book down. You will be shocked by the ending and eagerly awaiting the next book.
April 15, 2017
I am reviewing this book, as received from NetGalley prior to publication.
I have given this book four stars; in consideration of the age which I am reviewing for.
First off, the cover is beautiful, a good cover can draw a reader in to the book and Catherine has superbly accomplished this task. Secondly, a reader will want to pick up a book if it looks unique, and lets face it, there are not many books with Mermaid's on the cover, and for this I am thrilled for the book!
This book is rated as Teens and YA, I do think it will appeal to the younger of this spectrum, in fact I would imagine having my pre-teens read this book, really I think the ages of 10-14.
Why?
Well, this story lays a strong foundation for appropriate morals that society lacks nowadays.
1) This book addresses the importance of truth, without giving away spoilers, the main character puts aside her own gain, monetary future, and social status to do the 'right' thing.
2) This book addresses race and cultural influence; the author has managed to capture the detriments of segregating people based on their differences.
3) This book addresses ill influenced power and corruption in government; something which is prevalent and very real to many people today.
These sound like topics which are for the older teenager; however, considering that there really is a lack of character depth, the writing is superficial with quick transitions in the plot line (not a bad thing for the age range I have); and so it can be used as an early influence on children.
I did enjoy this story, and the author successfully set herself up for another sequel in the future which I can say that I will look forward to reading!
I have given this book four stars; in consideration of the age which I am reviewing for.
First off, the cover is beautiful, a good cover can draw a reader in to the book and Catherine has superbly accomplished this task. Secondly, a reader will want to pick up a book if it looks unique, and lets face it, there are not many books with Mermaid's on the cover, and for this I am thrilled for the book!
This book is rated as Teens and YA, I do think it will appeal to the younger of this spectrum, in fact I would imagine having my pre-teens read this book, really I think the ages of 10-14.
Why?
Well, this story lays a strong foundation for appropriate morals that society lacks nowadays.
1) This book addresses the importance of truth, without giving away spoilers, the main character puts aside her own gain, monetary future, and social status to do the 'right' thing.
2) This book addresses race and cultural influence; the author has managed to capture the detriments of segregating people based on their differences.
3) This book addresses ill influenced power and corruption in government; something which is prevalent and very real to many people today.
These sound like topics which are for the older teenager; however, considering that there really is a lack of character depth, the writing is superficial with quick transitions in the plot line (not a bad thing for the age range I have); and so it can be used as an early influence on children.
I did enjoy this story, and the author successfully set herself up for another sequel in the future which I can say that I will look forward to reading!
January 18, 2019
*rating is 4.5*
Really loved this cover and even though the mermaid looks a little too seductive for my taste in this picture, it's still so beautiful! Had no idea what to expect with this book and there's only two reasons I would pass up a fantasy book that grabs my attention with a cover like this one, it's either too boring or offensive for my reading taste. I can honestly say this book was NEITHER and I read it while having a cold :) I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough and Breakwater definitely kept me up past my bedtime in eagerness to know WHAT could possibly happen next!
I really loved Jade's heart in this story, she is determined to do the right thing even if it ruins the future she would be most comfortable with. And she becomes a Naiad supporter in this, which is a huge NO-NO in this mermaid/merman story.
I liked the king in the book UNTIL he makes a bad call with his Guard, then he asks Jade to consider doing the unthinkable and I realized that even though he has good intentions, he is truly a coward of a king and he only gets more desperate and makes more bad decisions.
A minor character gets killed in the story and even though he was only in one scene, i was truly sorry when he died. So well written!!
I liked Alexander, but didn't see him as the right love interest for Jade. Also their timing is horrible after the uprising they're facing in lieu of Tor's scandal. My hopes is for some other merman to become her love interest, someone unconventional who is passionate about taking down a true villain in the story.
When it's revealed that something very sinister is going on in the Mer world, it just made me love this story MORE! I'm so passionate about this topic and it's happening with the naiads, making me eager to see justice done.
I couldn't believe the cliffhanger of an ending, come on!! The good news is that the sequel is coming out early next year and I have my eye out for it and its cover :) Highly recommend this clean mermaid story, with a best friend of a dolphin named Kiki, very intelligent ocean metaphors, and a teen girl who is much smarter than her peers and willing to protect those she loves at any cost. Truly a remarkable book! *not Christian fiction*
Quotes I loved
"Our family can weather any current."
"Like I told you during the trial, Jade, I'm proud of you for following your moral current even though the tides were against you."
I wanted to rage at Yvonna, to tell her that she and the rest of her disgraceful family could sink to the depths for all I cared..."
Really loved this cover and even though the mermaid looks a little too seductive for my taste in this picture, it's still so beautiful! Had no idea what to expect with this book and there's only two reasons I would pass up a fantasy book that grabs my attention with a cover like this one, it's either too boring or offensive for my reading taste. I can honestly say this book was NEITHER and I read it while having a cold :) I couldn't turn the pages quickly enough and Breakwater definitely kept me up past my bedtime in eagerness to know WHAT could possibly happen next!
I really loved Jade's heart in this story, she is determined to do the right thing even if it ruins the future she would be most comfortable with. And she becomes a Naiad supporter in this, which is a huge NO-NO in this mermaid/merman story.
I liked the king in the book UNTIL he makes a bad call with his Guard, then he asks Jade to consider doing the unthinkable and I realized that even though he has good intentions, he is truly a coward of a king and he only gets more desperate and makes more bad decisions.
A minor character gets killed in the story and even though he was only in one scene, i was truly sorry when he died. So well written!!
I liked Alexander, but didn't see him as the right love interest for Jade. Also their timing is horrible after the uprising they're facing in lieu of Tor's scandal. My hopes is for some other merman to become her love interest, someone unconventional who is passionate about taking down a true villain in the story.
When it's revealed that something very sinister is going on in the Mer world, it just made me love this story MORE! I'm so passionate about this topic and it's happening with the naiads, making me eager to see justice done.
I couldn't believe the cliffhanger of an ending, come on!! The good news is that the sequel is coming out early next year and I have my eye out for it and its cover :) Highly recommend this clean mermaid story, with a best friend of a dolphin named Kiki, very intelligent ocean metaphors, and a teen girl who is much smarter than her peers and willing to protect those she loves at any cost. Truly a remarkable book! *not Christian fiction*
Quotes I loved
"Our family can weather any current."
"Like I told you during the trial, Jade, I'm proud of you for following your moral current even though the tides were against you."
I wanted to rage at Yvonna, to tell her that she and the rest of her disgraceful family could sink to the depths for all I cared..."
June 14, 2021
My first thoughts when reading the synopsis for this book were, “A mermaid story! How cool!”
It was definitely very cool.
The pacing was excellent, keeping me interested and invested in the story the entire time. The underwater world and descriptions of the people that the author created were so vibrant; my imagination painted vivid scenes of the entire novel. Political tensions and unrest engendered a fascinating plot, and the societal stigmas were very believable and realistic.
Honestly, protagonists are rarely some of my favorite characters; they usually start feeling generic after a while. But Jade was an excellent one: realistic, compassionate, and thoughtful but not sickeningly emotional. She did the right thing and dealt with the fallout of her actions with courage. She was active and empathetic and wrestled with her choices in a believable fashion. I did find it a little odd that she was in love with one merman while engaged to another at the age of seventeen (although her engagement was more politically motivated, and the coming-of-age was younger in her society). But the romance didn’t bother me terribly and wasn’t too dramatic or hormonal.
All in all, this was a fantastic start to the Broken Tides series, and I’m eager to follow Jade on the rest of her journey!
Content: mild violence, nondescript references to rape and affairs, a nondescript kiss
It was definitely very cool.
The pacing was excellent, keeping me interested and invested in the story the entire time. The underwater world and descriptions of the people that the author created were so vibrant; my imagination painted vivid scenes of the entire novel. Political tensions and unrest engendered a fascinating plot, and the societal stigmas were very believable and realistic.
Honestly, protagonists are rarely some of my favorite characters; they usually start feeling generic after a while. But Jade was an excellent one: realistic, compassionate, and thoughtful but not sickeningly emotional. She did the right thing and dealt with the fallout of her actions with courage. She was active and empathetic and wrestled with her choices in a believable fashion. I did find it a little odd that she was in love with one merman while engaged to another at the age of seventeen (although her engagement was more politically motivated, and the coming-of-age was younger in her society). But the romance didn’t bother me terribly and wasn’t too dramatic or hormonal.
All in all, this was a fantastic start to the Broken Tides series, and I’m eager to follow Jade on the rest of her journey!
Content: mild violence, nondescript references to rape and affairs, a nondescript kiss
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