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The Mermaid Curse #0.5
Alabaster Island
Seventeen-year-old Marei lives on Alabaster Island, a remote tropical isle inhabited by twenty-one families. Nobody under the age of eighteen has ever left to visit the mainland. The island and its strange customs are all that Marei and her friends know.
For years, Marei dreaded The Binding. On that day, each teen must write his or her choice of life mate. But with childhood sweetheart drowned long ago, Marei has no boy in mind. And so she leaves her paper blank. This sets off a chain of events that ruptures the bedrock of her life and leads her to question the only home she’s ever had.
She encounters a mermaid, beings thought to have gone extinct. The mermaid tells Marei to leave the island and offers to help. When a handsome teen from the mainland becomes stranded after a supply drop, Marei falls in love. Her secret plan to flee becomes an obsession.
But the mermaid has a hidden agenda of her own. Now Marei must confront the shocking reality that lies beneath island life. The choices she makes threaten to upend her fate and that of her island community forever…but only if she can escape alive
For years, Marei dreaded The Binding. On that day, each teen must write his or her choice of life mate. But with childhood sweetheart drowned long ago, Marei has no boy in mind. And so she leaves her paper blank. This sets off a chain of events that ruptures the bedrock of her life and leads her to question the only home she’s ever had.
She encounters a mermaid, beings thought to have gone extinct. The mermaid tells Marei to leave the island and offers to help. When a handsome teen from the mainland becomes stranded after a supply drop, Marei falls in love. Her secret plan to flee becomes an obsession.
But the mermaid has a hidden agenda of her own. Now Marei must confront the shocking reality that lies beneath island life. The choices she makes threaten to upend her fate and that of her island community forever…but only if she can escape alive
175 pages, Paperback
First published August 12, 2017
203 people are currently reading
514 people want to read
About the author
M.S. Kaminsky
16 books15 followersM.S. Kaminsky writes young adult urban fantasy and sci-fi with dashes of suspense, mystery and romance. His most recent release, The Mermaid Curse Series, reveals the enigmatic origin of mermaids in a gripping fantasy that spans generations of women.
When MSK is not writing he can be found with his husband attempting to tame the white water rapids of upstate New York or weeding in their garden. So far the rapids (and the weeds) are winning!
M.S. has been a lifelong writer. At four, he dictated his first short story to his dad before his hands were coordinated enough to hold a pencil. Today, his coordination is still questionable. However, his determination to write a good story remains just as strong as that spunky, four-year-old.
Visit www.mskaminsky.com to learn more and grab your free book!
When MSK is not writing he can be found with his husband attempting to tame the white water rapids of upstate New York or weeding in their garden. So far the rapids (and the weeds) are winning!
M.S. has been a lifelong writer. At four, he dictated his first short story to his dad before his hands were coordinated enough to hold a pencil. Today, his coordination is still questionable. However, his determination to write a good story remains just as strong as that spunky, four-year-old.
Visit www.mskaminsky.com to learn more and grab your free book!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 3, 2021
Round up 2.5 stars. The writing is not great but it is a good idea for a story. Could have been expanded into something better.
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August 13, 2017Review to follow
August 3, 2017
I totally enjoyed this book. Read the whole book in one sitting
August 2, 2017
4.5 Stars!
Oh I love a good Mermaid story! This was so much better than I even thought! I was hooked after only a couple of chapters. I found it very easy to "get into" and hard to put down.
This was a fun storyline with a little suspense, a little romance, and a lot of fantasy! A perfect YA book, but teens and adults would enjoy!
Great characters and character development! Marei was amazing. I loved her! She really reminded me of me when I was that age (well minus the Mermaid part LOL). She was a very brave, bold and a smart young woman. I loved that she was a little defiant, sneaking out of the house at night (I did a lot of that as a teen, but shhhh don't tell my mother). And yet, she also made some very difficult but selfless choices making her a heroine of sorts. I also loved Dylan. And Merma was the perfect villain, of course I didn't like her but you're not supposed to like her, she's evil!
There was a great ending, but... kind of a sad cliff hanger ending, so it left you definitely wanting to read the next book - The Atlantis Twins.
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from the author, MS Kaminsky - Thank You!
Oh I love a good Mermaid story! This was so much better than I even thought! I was hooked after only a couple of chapters. I found it very easy to "get into" and hard to put down.
This was a fun storyline with a little suspense, a little romance, and a lot of fantasy! A perfect YA book, but teens and adults would enjoy!
Great characters and character development! Marei was amazing. I loved her! She really reminded me of me when I was that age (well minus the Mermaid part LOL). She was a very brave, bold and a smart young woman. I loved that she was a little defiant, sneaking out of the house at night (I did a lot of that as a teen, but shhhh don't tell my mother). And yet, she also made some very difficult but selfless choices making her a heroine of sorts. I also loved Dylan. And Merma was the perfect villain, of course I didn't like her but you're not supposed to like her, she's evil!
There was a great ending, but... kind of a sad cliff hanger ending, so it left you definitely wanting to read the next book - The Atlantis Twins.
I voluntarily posted this review after receiving a copy of this book from the author, MS Kaminsky - Thank You!
July 13, 2017
I really loved this book. You either like or dislike the characters. I am 67 years old and still love books like these. Would recommend to young and old alike.
October 12, 2017
Alabaster Island is a wonderfully rich coming-of-age story. Being a prequel I was expecting it to be novella short, but this actually clocked in at nearly 200 pages. Which meant it was able to fully explore the small exotic island world with all of its odd traditions and interesting neighbors. From her vivid memories of Daniel, to the magical items like the rainbow story shell, to all of the day to day things in her life. I loved how round of a character Merai was from her over-obsession with luck, to her soft heart who loved the tame sea gull and loved her friends, her rocky relationship with Ben, her rebelliousness, her insecurities, and her self-centered determination. And I loved the mermaid with her mysteriousness and obvious danger, and how she was fleshed out with bits of a ruined tee-shirt and a devilish glint in her eyes rather than the typical Disney shells and happy singing. She seemed far more real and closer to a creature of nature rather than having the typical princess personality. I loved that even with the bits of fantasy and it’s odd locale, it felt very rooted in reality. The story itself took its time unfolding with tantalizing bits of mystery and suspense and teenage plight, but it was certainly never boring. The only time I felt like it took a mis-step was a certain explanation (unless Lemurian physiology is quite a bit different from Human, you can’t birth something by swallowing it) and that final page felt rushed and written as a sloppy bridge between the prequel and book 1. My copy included a preview of Atlantis Twins and sadly it didn’t hook me. I originally found this book because I voted for Atlantis Twins on Kindle Scout, but while I loved the plot idea, the preview was slow moving, gross in at least a couple of scenes, and it didn’t ring as set in Hawaii (it felt like it could have been set in California, and btw, Mahalo means thank you, not hello).
October 12, 2023
A typo (p. 42) brought to my attention the lyrical writing, and the skillful use of words to paint sensory experiences.
The pages are filled with typos, one wonders why an e-book isn't edited to correct them? If you notice them, though, they provide interesting pauses in a book that pulls the reader heedlessly forward.
Back to the story, the author disappoints horribly by making forced pairing at age 16 or 17 a central part of the culture. Along with a 'lifelong animosity' between children, and with only 22 on the entire island. Not one person on the island has the ability to train children, to channel energies properly?
As a plot device, its unnecessary; humans don't require horrible lives to be curious, to challenge the world, to explore boundaries, but this author felt the need to devise little monsters. Thankfully this is a story line that is quickly resolved in a believable if mildly surprising way, so we're not beaten over the head with it throughout.
So many more credible and not credible steps, but an enjoyable fairy tale in all. Touches almost every trite trope, fortunately omitting the dead/wicked mom. Might be worth checking into the "Mermaid Curse" after all.
"...pulling myself up dripping up on onto a giant black slab of stone made toasty by the sun."Can't you just smell the ocean and the heated water, feel the steam and the sun, from that simple fragment?
The pages are filled with typos, one wonders why an e-book isn't edited to correct them? If you notice them, though, they provide interesting pauses in a book that pulls the reader heedlessly forward.
Back to the story, the author disappoints horribly by making forced pairing at age 16 or 17 a central part of the culture. Along with a 'lifelong animosity' between children, and with only 22 on the entire island. Not one person on the island has the ability to train children, to channel energies properly?
As a plot device, its unnecessary; humans don't require horrible lives to be curious, to challenge the world, to explore boundaries, but this author felt the need to devise little monsters. Thankfully this is a story line that is quickly resolved in a believable if mildly surprising way, so we're not beaten over the head with it throughout.
So many more credible and not credible steps, but an enjoyable fairy tale in all. Touches almost every trite trope, fortunately omitting the dead/wicked mom. Might be worth checking into the "Mermaid Curse" after all.
April 25, 2023
This was a very unique coming-of-age story. I liked the premise behind it- and the suspense of the pressures and constraints these teens are going through and the underlying danger of not following as told. This was the first I'd read/listened to by this author.
I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by Amelia Mendez. I liked her voice and the voices she did of the different characters. At times, strangely the audio sounded read to- like a person sitting in a room with me reading out loud from a book rather than the feeling like the characters are speaking and things being acted out. It's hard to describe if that makes sense, because audiobooks are literally people reading books to you, but I can't recall ever feeling like I was being read to before.
Overall: 3 stars
Performance: 3 stars
Story: 3 stars
I listened to this as an audiobook narrated by Amelia Mendez. I liked her voice and the voices she did of the different characters. At times, strangely the audio sounded read to- like a person sitting in a room with me reading out loud from a book rather than the feeling like the characters are speaking and things being acted out. It's hard to describe if that makes sense, because audiobooks are literally people reading books to you, but I can't recall ever feeling like I was being read to before.
Overall: 3 stars
Performance: 3 stars
Story: 3 stars
April 19, 2018
Excellent
I received this book free from one of the book sites. I do not remember which one! This is my honest review.
Wow! This book is very different from what I usually like to read, but I have been branching out & trying new to me genres. Although I am 60, I have found that some of the YA books I've read have been better written than many of the other books lately.
Alabaster Island grabbed my attention from the beginning. I could not put it down. It's a great story & I'm not going to be a spoiler & say much more. I'm recommending this book to anyone interested in something fresh, new, yet ancient. What do I mean by that? Read this book & find out for yourself.
I received this book free from one of the book sites. I do not remember which one! This is my honest review.
Wow! This book is very different from what I usually like to read, but I have been branching out & trying new to me genres. Although I am 60, I have found that some of the YA books I've read have been better written than many of the other books lately.
Alabaster Island grabbed my attention from the beginning. I could not put it down. It's a great story & I'm not going to be a spoiler & say much more. I'm recommending this book to anyone interested in something fresh, new, yet ancient. What do I mean by that? Read this book & find out for yourself.
December 18, 2018
I actually did not like this book. The teenagers who reach the age of 17 are forced into arranged marriages, which does happen in places still today, but the main character after being bonded or married to her partner gets drunk, then does drugs and has sex with a boy not from the island. In addition the person she was bonded to they made gay to justify her actions. Also she leaves the island and abandons her partner, to go live with the boy she had sex with because she was pregnant with twins from their coupling, even though she never was divorced from her bonded partner. I just really hated this prequel and wish I hadn't read it.
September 1, 2024
I have a soft spot for stories that draw inspiration from the mythical Atlantis, and though the link to it was small in this one, I did like the world-building aspects (tiny though they were; I'd have loved to spend more time on that part of it). My main gripe with the story is that the pacing was awful - the first part of it was slow and steady, and then suddenly, when it came to the actual story it seemed, it rushed up, dashing through plot points that felt way too important to be delegated to a single sentence or single paragraph reference.
March 4, 2018
A brand new vision of a mermaid tale. Great world building; has everything in it. An island i
of people wishing to be separate from the world until the right occurrence happens; rules to be followed, longings and secrets, unknown dangers, loves old and new. These are only the highlights, to learn what happens in this wonderful story you'll have to get it and read it. I recommend to all those who love fantasy stories of merfolk, secrets, danger and so much more.
of people wishing to be separate from the world until the right occurrence happens; rules to be followed, longings and secrets, unknown dangers, loves old and new. These are only the highlights, to learn what happens in this wonderful story you'll have to get it and read it. I recommend to all those who love fantasy stories of merfolk, secrets, danger and so much more.
November 4, 2018
Yes yes yes! More please! Did not disapoint!
Yes yes yes! This story was wonderful. I give it 5 stars because i was sucked in and hooked until it ended. Then left desperate for more. I love mermaid stories and it was new and fun for me to learn about the plot along with the main character. I recommend this to everyone and cannot wait to read the atlantis twins. I hope to learn more about this main characters story through the Atlantis twins book.
Yes yes yes! This story was wonderful. I give it 5 stars because i was sucked in and hooked until it ended. Then left desperate for more. I love mermaid stories and it was new and fun for me to learn about the plot along with the main character. I recommend this to everyone and cannot wait to read the atlantis twins. I hope to learn more about this main characters story through the Atlantis twins book.
August 7, 2019
Great Storytelling; New Twist on an Old Mystery
I really enjoyed reading Alabaster Island. There were lots of unexpected surprises, and nothing is as it appears! Mermaids are a fascinating subject and they've long since been an elevated fantasy character, however sinister their siren call is for men! I'm looking forward to the next installment, as this prequel leaves you wanting more!
I really enjoyed reading Alabaster Island. There were lots of unexpected surprises, and nothing is as it appears! Mermaids are a fascinating subject and they've long since been an elevated fantasy character, however sinister their siren call is for men! I'm looking forward to the next installment, as this prequel leaves you wanting more!
November 3, 2020
Sad Sad Confusing Story!
At times I was confused with the narrative of Mari and the other side of the story. It needed to be much more clearer and more consisted of the beginning of a series of stories. That might have held my interest much better. Ben her so-called "husband" is in love with another young guy, but the story is stuck in the nineteen forties or the fifties! Very sad! 😑😑
At times I was confused with the narrative of Mari and the other side of the story. It needed to be much more clearer and more consisted of the beginning of a series of stories. That might have held my interest much better. Ben her so-called "husband" is in love with another young guy, but the story is stuck in the nineteen forties or the fifties! Very sad! 😑😑
November 5, 2020
An intriguing story!
I love to read someone's stories about ancient cities and civilizations. We really have no true history to rely on so it's wonderful to see them at least remembered in stories, even if they're fantasy. The ancient city of Lemuria leaves many wondering how they were able to have such advanced technology so many thousands of years ago. Wouldn't it be amazing if a remnant of ancient Lemurians really existed? Great story telling!
I love to read someone's stories about ancient cities and civilizations. We really have no true history to rely on so it's wonderful to see them at least remembered in stories, even if they're fantasy. The ancient city of Lemuria leaves many wondering how they were able to have such advanced technology so many thousands of years ago. Wouldn't it be amazing if a remnant of ancient Lemurians really existed? Great story telling!
November 17, 2020
Strange story of a very sheltered girl living on an island with people who I think believed they were Atlantean even though they called themselves something else. All this drama about Binding and losing a friend and then a mermaid and a boy from Hawaii. It was all very odd. The mermaid part was the oddest and not explained but rather glanced over. Lots of unrequited love. And the ending is even vaguer and disappointing
September 1, 2017
Excellent!!! Certainly a change of pace for me and I'm thrilled I took a chance. I read the first 4 chapters of the next in the series and as soon as I finish other commitments, it's on to the next book. When a man can write a book with such beautiful insights into a young girl's thoughts, he deserves an award just for that.
December 1, 2017
This book was different from most of the books I usually read. The main character was Marei who lived on the beautiful remote island of Alabaster. A coming of age mermaid story. Marei was a great character, so strong and determined. Well written with an engaging storyline. I read an arc copy and voluntarily chose to write a review.
February 27, 2018
Amazing story!
This is the best mermaid story I've ever read! Can't wait to read the next book in the series! Great storyline, and suitable for teens to adults. There is a bit of well-being subject matter, a bit of sexual talk and same sex relationships, but nothing that should deter any fantasy fan
This is the best mermaid story I've ever read! Can't wait to read the next book in the series! Great storyline, and suitable for teens to adults. There is a bit of well-being subject matter, a bit of sexual talk and same sex relationships, but nothing that should deter any fantasy fan
November 10, 2018
I started this book a while ago and had to put it down due to unfortunate events. Luckily I was able to pick it back up like I had never put it down. It's a quick book to enjoy. I love mermaids and found this a really interesting take on them. This is a prequel to "The Atlantis Twins," which looks like a good read too.
May 11, 2023
“When you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice”
Given the chance to speak up about anything, do so. Otherwise, you will be stuck with somebody else’s decision regarding your life. Vote!
No spoilers, but what were those two thinking years ago?
Continuing on with ‘Atlantis Twins’, ‘Atlantis Song’, and ‘Atlantis Queens’ to see what happens with Marei’s island community.
Given the chance to speak up about anything, do so. Otherwise, you will be stuck with somebody else’s decision regarding your life. Vote!
No spoilers, but what were those two thinking years ago?
Continuing on with ‘Atlantis Twins’, ‘Atlantis Song’, and ‘Atlantis Queens’ to see what happens with Marei’s island community.
January 10, 2018
Not bad
Not sure what I was expecting, but this is definitely interesting. I may or may not read the follow up book, but I’m happy to read this one. The ending is amazing, and I definitely enjoyed How The plot develops.
Not sure what I was expecting, but this is definitely interesting. I may or may not read the follow up book, but I’m happy to read this one. The ending is amazing, and I definitely enjoyed How The plot develops.
February 3, 2018
A sweet story in an imagined place
I felt so sorry for Marei the entire story until her deep secrets came to light. It was then I knew she was stronger than she seemed....a great quick palate cleansing read!
I felt so sorry for Marei the entire story until her deep secrets came to light. It was then I knew she was stronger than she seemed....a great quick palate cleansing read!
October 27, 2018
Fantastic
This is just the start of a fantastic new series by a wonderful author! It's well written and has a good steady pace. I highly recommend reading this series if you love anything mermaid or Atlantis related!
This is just the start of a fantastic new series by a wonderful author! It's well written and has a good steady pace. I highly recommend reading this series if you love anything mermaid or Atlantis related!
December 18, 2019
A Modern Story with a few Twists
This book was very intriguing. I thought I knew where and when it was located and then something would pop up that I didn’t expect. What world or what dimension has the intersection of all of these ideas, people and technology? Alabaster island!
This book was very intriguing. I thought I knew where and when it was located and then something would pop up that I didn’t expect. What world or what dimension has the intersection of all of these ideas, people and technology? Alabaster island!
January 27, 2020
Great writing. A Story for Young Romantics
It is taught on Alabaster Island, when the binding must occur, who must bind with whom, why the bound must "elope" to Honey Moon Island, and the secret of the mermaid.
It is taught on Alabaster Island, when the binding must occur, who must bind with whom, why the bound must "elope" to Honey Moon Island, and the secret of the mermaid.
March 7, 2020
Twisty end!
The angst of a teenage girl flows through this story. She lives in a very unusual, closed society on an island near Hawaii. They have some odd customs and one is how their life partner is chosen. I am curious about the rest of the series now.
The angst of a teenage girl flows through this story. She lives in a very unusual, closed society on an island near Hawaii. They have some odd customs and one is how their life partner is chosen. I am curious about the rest of the series now.
October 31, 2020
I think I picked the right one to start with as I like to start at the beginning. To find out most of the way through Marai was part mermaid..mind blown. very interested to see more from this world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2020
Cliffhanger
I hate it when a book ends in a cliffhanger, I would have given this book another star of the story had been complete. I did enjoy the well plotted storyline. An interesting take on a mermaid life.
I hate it when a book ends in a cliffhanger, I would have given this book another star of the story had been complete. I did enjoy the well plotted storyline. An interesting take on a mermaid life.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews