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Under #2
Undercurrent: A Merfolk Myth
Someone is hunting the merfolk.
While the Council has been busy between possible talks with the United Nations and following clues into the man who killed Scott's parents, rumors of dead mermen are reaching the news. Is the hunter human or one of their own? More importantly, how is he so easily finding victims who have learned how to hide over centuries?
Seeking to drag their assailant into the light, they might not be prepared to pay the cost, both to the merfolk, and much less to their family.
While the Council has been busy between possible talks with the United Nations and following clues into the man who killed Scott's parents, rumors of dead mermen are reaching the news. Is the hunter human or one of their own? More importantly, how is he so easily finding victims who have learned how to hide over centuries?
Seeking to drag their assailant into the light, they might not be prepared to pay the cost, both to the merfolk, and much less to their family.
238 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2017
32 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
M.N. Arzu
7 books250 followersThe first series that captivated my imagination was The Chronicles of Narnia. The idea of having a secret world —imaginary or otherwise—was so appealing I had to create my own as soon as possible.
Fast forward a couple of decades, and I have gone through the dark realms of Stephen King, to the lighthearted girl power of Sailor Moon. I've fought monsters on Zelda, and become a die-hard Roswell fan. I've lost my memories with Jason Bourne, and I've lived a thousand lives alongside vampires, immortals, fairies and goddesses.
Magic and science blend into the tales I bring to life, and I am constantly striving to capture the essence of the great storytellers from my past.
Fast forward a couple of decades, and I have gone through the dark realms of Stephen King, to the lighthearted girl power of Sailor Moon. I've fought monsters on Zelda, and become a die-hard Roswell fan. I've lost my memories with Jason Bourne, and I've lived a thousand lives alongside vampires, immortals, fairies and goddesses.
Magic and science blend into the tales I bring to life, and I am constantly striving to capture the essence of the great storytellers from my past.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
January 30, 2019
Check out my review @ Metaphors and Moonlight for a giveaway! INTL, ends 2/7/19.*
4 Stars
Review:
Another great story about a lovable merfolk family living on the surface, this time with a gripping mystery!
This second book in the series nicely continued the thread about merfolk living on the surface having been discovered---talks with the UN in progress, the military/government following them, the public being curious and arguing over whether they should have rights, the press trying to figure out the truth, etc. The author once again did a great job balancing all the difference perspectives and POVs and how characters sometimes did make the wrong conclusions or assumptions, but in ways that made complete sense since many of them were only working with a small piece of the whole. But this one also had its own plot about someone hunting down and killing merfolk. The mystery was gripping and made me want to keep reading to find out what was really going on, especially as the story got closer to the end.
Since these books are set on the surface, there wasn't a ton of mer-ness in this one (there's more in the other books), but there was more use of the merfolk telepathy this time. They had some interesting powers and could do some complicated things through their mental connections to each other, and that was cool to read about.
The cast of characters was also great, once again. Everyone felt real and unique, and that's saying something considering how many characters there are. It also seemed like there were fewer POVs this time, or maybe I was just used to it since I was already familiar with most of the characters and really liked all the POVs since they all felt different.
Last but not least, the Brooks family is such a nice family to read about. There were some really sweet family moments and touching emotions among the family members. And there was still no romance! These books haven't needed romance so far, and I'm glad the author hasn't forced it in.
I'm really enjoying this series with its lovable, three-dimensional characters and its unique take on merfolk living among humans!
Recommended For:
Fans of Book 1 in M.N. Arzu's Under series. Anyone who likes merfolk, realistic characters, adorable family, and a different kind of mer story.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
---------------------
Initial Thoughts:
Another great story about a sweet merfolk family living on the surface, this time with a gripping mystery!
4 Stars
Review:
Another great story about a lovable merfolk family living on the surface, this time with a gripping mystery!
This second book in the series nicely continued the thread about merfolk living on the surface having been discovered---talks with the UN in progress, the military/government following them, the public being curious and arguing over whether they should have rights, the press trying to figure out the truth, etc. The author once again did a great job balancing all the difference perspectives and POVs and how characters sometimes did make the wrong conclusions or assumptions, but in ways that made complete sense since many of them were only working with a small piece of the whole. But this one also had its own plot about someone hunting down and killing merfolk. The mystery was gripping and made me want to keep reading to find out what was really going on, especially as the story got closer to the end.
Since these books are set on the surface, there wasn't a ton of mer-ness in this one (there's more in the other books), but there was more use of the merfolk telepathy this time. They had some interesting powers and could do some complicated things through their mental connections to each other, and that was cool to read about.
The cast of characters was also great, once again. Everyone felt real and unique, and that's saying something considering how many characters there are. It also seemed like there were fewer POVs this time, or maybe I was just used to it since I was already familiar with most of the characters and really liked all the POVs since they all felt different.
Last but not least, the Brooks family is such a nice family to read about. There were some really sweet family moments and touching emotions among the family members. And there was still no romance! These books haven't needed romance so far, and I'm glad the author hasn't forced it in.
I'm really enjoying this series with its lovable, three-dimensional characters and its unique take on merfolk living among humans!
Recommended For:
Fans of Book 1 in M.N. Arzu's Under series. Anyone who likes merfolk, realistic characters, adorable family, and a different kind of mer story.
Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
---------------------
Initial Thoughts:
Another great story about a sweet merfolk family living on the surface, this time with a gripping mystery!
June 9, 2018
A satisfying conclusion to the first book 'Underneath'.
This was a pretty good 'first contact' story, which also highlighted the strength of familial bonds. The book kept me engaged, and its twist and turns in regards to who the 'bad guy' was kept me turning the pages.
Note that this two-book merfolk story wasn't a romance; if it was, more detailed physical descriptions would have definitely helped. As it was, I had a hard time visualizing any of the characters.
Still, this was a good read, and I could see another book in the works.
This was a pretty good 'first contact' story, which also highlighted the strength of familial bonds. The book kept me engaged, and its twist and turns in regards to who the 'bad guy' was kept me turning the pages.
Note that this two-book merfolk story wasn't a romance; if it was, more detailed physical descriptions would have definitely helped. As it was, I had a hard time visualizing any of the characters.
Still, this was a good read, and I could see another book in the works.
May 23, 2017
I loved this book! Probably even more than the first one. This one gives you a deeper glance into the characters personalities and provides a better understanding of where they are coming from, so you get to know them better and establish a better connection with them. Still not your typical mermaid story, the plot was different and unexpected, I was hooked from the start... I definitely want to keep reading about the Brookses... keep the books coming MN Arzú!
May 25, 2017
As the name implies, this second book takes us deeper into the Merfolk world. Arzú let's us explore more about their powers and society, while solving an enigmatic crime. Personally, I loved the pace, I loved the descriptions and the Brook's family dynamics. I'm looking forward to seeing what more is in this new world of Michelle's, since there are some secondary characters that have a sense of... trascendence.
November 2, 2017
This was enjoyable, but I didn't really get to grips with the characters in this book, unlike the first, where I was desperate to get to the end and see if it all turned out happily. There were a few too many characters this time, and I wasn't really sure who was the main focus of the story.
A bit of a disappointment, but that wont stop me getting the next book when it comes out ;)
A bit of a disappointment, but that wont stop me getting the next book when it comes out ;)
November 2, 2017
When everyone's Super, no one will be. -- Syndrome
The problem with this book is that there are too many interesting characters - and having interesting characters is usually not a bad thing - but in this case, I did not know who to pull for. There are also two main story arcs: relations between human and merfolk; the mystery behind the killing of merfolk, highlighting the tension between Surface and City merfolk. It was well written and entertaining but could have been so much more if the author had let go of some of her cast and deepened one of the storyline.
The problem with this book is that there are too many interesting characters - and having interesting characters is usually not a bad thing - but in this case, I did not know who to pull for. There are also two main story arcs: relations between human and merfolk; the mystery behind the killing of merfolk, highlighting the tension between Surface and City merfolk. It was well written and entertaining but could have been so much more if the author had let go of some of her cast and deepened one of the storyline.
January 4, 2021
Disclaimer: I did NOT receive a free copy of this book in exchange for a review – this review is solely because this an underrated series/author, and I would love to bring more attention to Arzu’s work. I did receive the first book in this series, Underneath, over a year ago in a Goodreads giveaway. (See my review of that here.) In any case, reading that book made me invested in the series, and I always meant to pick it back up again… now I finally did, and this is my review of the second book.
Since it has been over a year from the time I read the first book, I was a bit rusty on the characters and organizations involved. One of the strengths of this book is how Arzu portrays the detailed interactions between various governmental bodies – the United Nations, Department of Defense, private industry, etc. – and the merfolk involved. As in the first book, the focus is on the Brooks family. I could barely remember what each character did in the first book, and aside from a few remarks here or there, there was not much of a reference to the events in the first book. This is my own issue though, and probably not a consideration if you actually read the books in a more linear fashion. This made some of the characters feel a bit stagnant in this book, as their characterization continued to develop from the previous book (and which continues in the third). I was also lost on which character belonged to which organization. I could have refreshed my memory and reread the first book, but I decided to deep dive into the second right away. Gradually, I started remembering who did what, but again, if you read it in quick succession, this shouldn’t be an issue.
The plot in this novel revolves around a new villainous figure and some issues from the characters’ past, and since the plot mainly deals with this one issue, it does feel a bit abrupt from the first novel. The characters are mainly the same, aside from a few new ones, and yet the conflict is quite different. Some of the threads from the first book continue to linger in this one, so it does not yet reach a satisfactory ending… the main plot is resolved in this book, but of course there are other threads. Still, the plot was interesting and mysterious, and though it wasn’t exactly a thriller or suspense novel, it had a good amount of momentum to keep me going.
My biggest issue with the novel, and probably with the series overall, is due to the nature of it being a self-published series. Some of the stylistic choices made for dialogue seem strange and inappropriate for the character. For example, a line from one of the adult photographers in the novel: ‘“Holly crap, he just shot him!” Jeff said, clicking a thousand photographs per second.’ There are some spelling and grammatical errors, as you can see there, but there are also stylistic choices that don’t exactly seem ‘right’ for a native English speaker, especially with the high school aged kids. Some of the agency designations also don’t seem appropriate, e.g. calling members of the Navy ‘marines’. But I am not familiar with military terminology, either. I am not sure if Arzu had an editor or not; perhaps the text could have used another pair of eyes and a cultural edit as well.* (Arzu is from Guatemala according to the biography, so I can understand the difficulty in writing a foreign setting like a NYC elite private school—which is probably as foreign a setting for even many in the US!)
With that said, I liked the novel and it was a good continuation to the series. I liked reading about the various intergovernmental interactions and the diplomatic talks between the merfolk and the humans, as well as the role of young activists, and even legal jurisprudence was thrown into the mix. While the series is not as polished as it could be, it does discuss interesting legal and diplomatic themes, and brings a realistic flair to the ever-common 'mermaids' setting. I am looking forward to the third book in the series. I am not sure if this is meant to be a trilogy, or if there will be additional books, but I can only hope that Arzu keeps working on this series; I look forward to future books by this author.
* If you are reading this by chance, I would certainly volunteer!
Since it has been over a year from the time I read the first book, I was a bit rusty on the characters and organizations involved. One of the strengths of this book is how Arzu portrays the detailed interactions between various governmental bodies – the United Nations, Department of Defense, private industry, etc. – and the merfolk involved. As in the first book, the focus is on the Brooks family. I could barely remember what each character did in the first book, and aside from a few remarks here or there, there was not much of a reference to the events in the first book. This is my own issue though, and probably not a consideration if you actually read the books in a more linear fashion. This made some of the characters feel a bit stagnant in this book, as their characterization continued to develop from the previous book (and which continues in the third). I was also lost on which character belonged to which organization. I could have refreshed my memory and reread the first book, but I decided to deep dive into the second right away. Gradually, I started remembering who did what, but again, if you read it in quick succession, this shouldn’t be an issue.
The plot in this novel revolves around a new villainous figure and some issues from the characters’ past, and since the plot mainly deals with this one issue, it does feel a bit abrupt from the first novel. The characters are mainly the same, aside from a few new ones, and yet the conflict is quite different. Some of the threads from the first book continue to linger in this one, so it does not yet reach a satisfactory ending… the main plot is resolved in this book, but of course there are other threads. Still, the plot was interesting and mysterious, and though it wasn’t exactly a thriller or suspense novel, it had a good amount of momentum to keep me going.
My biggest issue with the novel, and probably with the series overall, is due to the nature of it being a self-published series. Some of the stylistic choices made for dialogue seem strange and inappropriate for the character. For example, a line from one of the adult photographers in the novel: ‘“Holly crap, he just shot him!” Jeff said, clicking a thousand photographs per second.’ There are some spelling and grammatical errors, as you can see there, but there are also stylistic choices that don’t exactly seem ‘right’ for a native English speaker, especially with the high school aged kids. Some of the agency designations also don’t seem appropriate, e.g. calling members of the Navy ‘marines’. But I am not familiar with military terminology, either. I am not sure if Arzu had an editor or not; perhaps the text could have used another pair of eyes and a cultural edit as well.* (Arzu is from Guatemala according to the biography, so I can understand the difficulty in writing a foreign setting like a NYC elite private school—which is probably as foreign a setting for even many in the US!)
With that said, I liked the novel and it was a good continuation to the series. I liked reading about the various intergovernmental interactions and the diplomatic talks between the merfolk and the humans, as well as the role of young activists, and even legal jurisprudence was thrown into the mix. While the series is not as polished as it could be, it does discuss interesting legal and diplomatic themes, and brings a realistic flair to the ever-common 'mermaids' setting. I am looking forward to the third book in the series. I am not sure if this is meant to be a trilogy, or if there will be additional books, but I can only hope that Arzu keeps working on this series; I look forward to future books by this author.
* If you are reading this by chance, I would certainly volunteer!
October 15, 2023
THIS SERIES SHOULD BE A MOVIE OR TV SERIES! This is my favorite series in a long, long time. I go through 20 books/month, mostly audio, and rarely do I find a book or series that stays with me for more than a day or two when I am constantly on to the next one. Long after the excitement of the action and the mental intrigues of all the many mysteries that are going on, each book in this series has its undercurrent, if you will, of psychology and anthropology, both among, and between, the various groups of "people".
Rarely have I been so viscerally and visually impacted by the realization that while the setting may be
alien -.first contact, there is so much of the primitive mindset that is quick to decide who is "Other" so that we can band together in groups of Us against Them.
I love the main cast of characters who have the courage to go beyond the boundaries of their "assigned" groups. While this series was given to me in exchange for a candid review, it will live on with me as long as I have memory. I am sure it will have the sticking power of Heinlein's "Stranger In A Strange Land" that I read 3 or 4 decades ago.
I love that the author doesn't over-clutter the characters' descriptions with too much visual information, as I like to picture them the way I want them to look. I want to cast my own version of this movie playing out in my head. I don't care if their shirt is a blue, green, yellow ,windowpane plaid or that kind of boring detail that some authors throw in just for word count when they don't have much to say.
I also love how the author gave me the feeling that the narrater was Merfolk who sometimes thinks in a
different language, as does the author.
I highly recommend this book and this series which is also available as a 3 book package. One book seamlessly goes into the next as if it were going on to the next chapter.
Rarely have I been so viscerally and visually impacted by the realization that while the setting may be
alien -.first contact, there is so much of the primitive mindset that is quick to decide who is "Other" so that we can band together in groups of Us against Them.
I love the main cast of characters who have the courage to go beyond the boundaries of their "assigned" groups. While this series was given to me in exchange for a candid review, it will live on with me as long as I have memory. I am sure it will have the sticking power of Heinlein's "Stranger In A Strange Land" that I read 3 or 4 decades ago.
I love that the author doesn't over-clutter the characters' descriptions with too much visual information, as I like to picture them the way I want them to look. I want to cast my own version of this movie playing out in my head. I don't care if their shirt is a blue, green, yellow ,windowpane plaid or that kind of boring detail that some authors throw in just for word count when they don't have much to say.
I also love how the author gave me the feeling that the narrater was Merfolk who sometimes thinks in a
different language, as does the author.
I highly recommend this book and this series which is also available as a 3 book package. One book seamlessly goes into the next as if it were going on to the next chapter.
May 31, 2017
3.6 Amazon; 3.2 Goodreads. Enjoyable, but it's complicated remembering who knows what, and...
... figuring out whether X or Y might might be working with, or controlled by, the killer. Surface-merfolk Council and citizens debate coming forward and working with the UN, while undersea traditionalists are horrified by the mere idea, and troubled by unrest caused in their City by returnees with promising tales of life outside. Yet a killer imperils every one of them trying to live among humans, the press and military intelligence are both getting closer to the Brooks family's secrets, and human allies who each hold certain pieces of the truth must weigh their loyalties. Meanwhile, determined young Scott, not yet feeling truly like a Brooks, chafes under Julian and Drake's insistence on patience in the hunt for the man who killed his parents years ago.
I'd say I liked this book nearly as much as the first, and found not as many language errors and typos. I definitely plan to continue reading future releases from Ms. Arzu. She creates characters you care about, and scenarios that you can believe in.
... figuring out whether X or Y might might be working with, or controlled by, the killer. Surface-merfolk Council and citizens debate coming forward and working with the UN, while undersea traditionalists are horrified by the mere idea, and troubled by unrest caused in their City by returnees with promising tales of life outside. Yet a killer imperils every one of them trying to live among humans, the press and military intelligence are both getting closer to the Brooks family's secrets, and human allies who each hold certain pieces of the truth must weigh their loyalties. Meanwhile, determined young Scott, not yet feeling truly like a Brooks, chafes under Julian and Drake's insistence on patience in the hunt for the man who killed his parents years ago.
I'd say I liked this book nearly as much as the first, and found not as many language errors and typos. I definitely plan to continue reading future releases from Ms. Arzu. She creates characters you care about, and scenarios that you can believe in.
February 9, 2018
I was so excited to see this book available. i had read the first one and thoroughly enjoyed it and periodically checked to see the second had been published.
As with the first, this was a great read, with lovely descriptions and culture building for the merfolk. It was fast paced and engaging, with likable characters and lots of intrigue. My only issue was with some typos, which didn't really detract from the story.
As with the first, this was a great read, with lovely descriptions and culture building for the merfolk. It was fast paced and engaging, with likable characters and lots of intrigue. My only issue was with some typos, which didn't really detract from the story.
May 15, 2017
Another great book
This 2nd book of the series seems more involved and exciting than the first book. I loved the story line. I was nearly glued to my kindle. The whole idea of merfolk is fascinating and intriguing to me. I can't say enough good things about this storyline. It's definitely worthwhile to read.
This 2nd book of the series seems more involved and exciting than the first book. I loved the story line. I was nearly glued to my kindle. The whole idea of merfolk is fascinating and intriguing to me. I can't say enough good things about this storyline. It's definitely worthwhile to read.
April 12, 2018
I admit I would never have thought a book about Mermaids would have been any good. Boy was I wrong. This and Underneath (Book #1) are a fun, and a great read. These are well written, clean logic, and ironically enough mostly believable. After devouring Underneath, I immediately had to buy this next in the series - and they flow well together.
Well recommended.
Well recommended.
December 1, 2018
A Thrilling Dive
This fast-paced sequel brings us to the twisted mind of a merfolk hunter. An enjoyable, suspenseful read that neatly follows the first book while setting up the third.
I'm especially enjoying Arzu's take on the human response to discovering we're sharing our planet with another intelligent species.
This fast-paced sequel brings us to the twisted mind of a merfolk hunter. An enjoyable, suspenseful read that neatly follows the first book while setting up the third.
I'm especially enjoying Arzu's take on the human response to discovering we're sharing our planet with another intelligent species.
May 22, 2017
I absolutely love this book and this series and hope there are many more to come! Amazing to read about mermen without the romance, fantastic and well done! Easily read and pulls you right in. Highly Recommended!
July 18, 2018
Great follow-up to book 1, "Underneath" -- the author is quite good. There is an unexpected villain, and unexpected cooperation among some of the book 1 players. And much dramatic tension. On to book 3!
May 25, 2019
Menfolk
Interesting and well written. The personalities of the teenage boys are quite well developed, if the adults are a bit more one dimensional. The storyline is absorbing. Definitely reading the next in the series.
Interesting and well written. The personalities of the teenage boys are quite well developed, if the adults are a bit more one dimensional. The storyline is absorbing. Definitely reading the next in the series.
June 3, 2022
A bit of a slow start, then you suddenly realize how completely the story has taken you in and held you captive for hours. I hated when I had to put this 2nd novel in the trilogy down and participate in my own reality for short times. Looking forward to part 3 novel.
May 11, 2017
Was waiting patiently for this book
I waited patiently for this book having read the first in the series and having read the librarian.it has been a joy to read
I waited patiently for this book having read the first in the series and having read the librarian.it has been a joy to read
May 21, 2017
Awesome. Just awesome. This story is so unique and so creative. I'm looking forward to a third installment soon. The Brookses feel almost like my family now and I can't wait to read more.
July 16, 2017
Excellent and fulfilling story to read.
January 21, 2019
Entertaining Read
I was searching for any new exciting book and just stumbled onto this series on my iPad. New Author is creative and fun.
I was searching for any new exciting book and just stumbled onto this series on my iPad. New Author is creative and fun.
February 26, 2019
Kept me interested for sure, but it seemed like so much of this book was just about telepathy, and that doesn’t interest me as much as the first one did.
June 2, 2023
"Undercurrent" -Great Read!
This was a great 2nd book in this series. Great story build up & action. I can almost see this as a movie.
This was a great 2nd book in this series. Great story build up & action. I can almost see this as a movie.
January 11, 2020
Better than the first
Once again this book delivers with its fascinating and believable take on merefolk. My only complaint is that I want more books!
Once again this book delivers with its fascinating and believable take on merefolk. My only complaint is that I want more books!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews