Reckless

Terran Sea #1

by Jenetta Penner, David R. Bernstein

First the floods consumed the Earth.
Then the Syndicate took everything from me.
My childhood, my first love—my humanity.

Before I was born, the rising oceans consumed the last land on Earth. All I’ve ever known is a fight for survival. But the Syndicate wants to change this, genetically adapting children to fit this harsh new world—no matter how many lives are sacrificed in the process.

When little, I was ripped from my home to take part in the Syndicate's cruel experiments. But I broke free. Now, at the age of seventeen, I'm hunted for my unique ability to thrive beneath the ocean's depths, but also because I rescue others held captive by the Syndicate.

Every day is a predictable struggle, the same watery grave of fears. Everything changes on a routine patrol of a Syndicate vessel, however, when I stumble across two people—a highly sought-after prisoner who was designed to be more powerful than myself and a young man from my past, one my heart never forgot.

These two ghosts from my past will most likely jeopardize all the work I’ve achieved against the Syndicate. But I can’t leave them behind. Even if I lose everything in saving them, including my very life.

Reckless is a dystopian adventure packed with action, romance, and wonder.Note: Reckless is a re-brand of the novel, NeverSea with improved editing and adjusted character naming.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult, Mermaids, Retellings, Dystopia, Fairy Tales

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2017

Reviews

[Bree · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was given an e-book ARC of Neversea from the authors/Torment Publishing in exchange for an honest review.

Take a little bit of science-fiction, add in some dystopian elements, and top it all with not one but two fairy tale retellings and what do you get? Neversea.
This Little Mermaid and Peter Pan hybrid retelling has a bit of action, romance, and an interesting plot that captivates you enough to start the journey. With all that it has going for it, the story should be splendid and engaging throughout, right? Well, sort of.
Don't get me wrong, Neversea was fun and light-hearted. However, if you are looking for a plot with deeper meanings, political agendas, and a overall morals, then this might not quite be for you.
As I have stated, this story was light-hearted. I did not have to look into the story more than I had to because all that I needed to know was laid out in the text. Which is sometimes refreshing - we all need to read books to recharge our brains, and for me, Neversea was one of them. For the past few weeks I was in a rather bad reading slump and I flew through this book. However, that is not to say that this was a masterpiece. Rather, it was kind of a campy, fun story that got me back into the reading spirit. I will comment and give props to the authors that (for the most part) the writing was good and I felt like I could have been in the plot due to the writing.

*I'm putting a slight spoiler warning here for the rest of the review just so those who may read it aren't surprised!*

Two things that I typically look strong character development and interesting backstory. This is where I feel like Neversea immensely failed. First off, the are thrust into this fast-paced opening where you are reading files from the "mad scientist" Nerissa, then shown these 3 children at a young age (11-15ish), and then about two years later. Three different periods in time - and that is only the prologue! Needless to say, it felt very rushed. The prologue offers very little character development, and these are your main characters for the entire book. Sure, we get the idea that Arya and Peter (the Little Mermaid and Peter Pan cast members, respectively) are like family and that Arya and james kind of have a romance (though keep in mind, the characters are all children!). Otherwise, we do not know anything about them. There are brief mentions of where Arya grew up, no mentions about Peter's life before becoming a science experiment, and no backstory for anyone or anything else. Which makes two faults - 1) how can I relate to the characters if I don't know them or what drives them? and 2) how am I supposed to understand the world if I know nothing about it!?
The lack of backstory is unfortunate because I am really interested in knowing how everything came to be! While I am happy that the authors did not info dump (seriously, thank you), I still would have liked some more knowledge.
Why was Nerissa turned down? Nerissa is experimenting on children in order to save the human species from extinction since the world is now covered in water. To be honest, this does not sound like a bad thing at all. It is hinted that these kids weren't just stolen from their beds to be tested on, so I feel like a simple explanation from Nerissa would make her a hero instead of a villain.

Which leads me to the water world. We are placed in a futuristic earth where water is overtaking the planet, leaving land sparse. Is there actually any land left? I know this is earth and all, but I need some description. Give me world-building, because it's hard to imagine that ALL OF EARTH is covered in water now. ALSO, how did earth get covered in water? Global warming, right? NO!? This part made no sense to me. We literally live in a world where global warming is melting the ice caps and some time in the far off future it will be likely that most of the world will be water logged. But instead of capitalizing on this very easy explanation, the authors go with “The immense pockets of water that broke through the Earth’s crust so long ago are still seeping from the ocean’s floor to this day.” Literally. Makes. No. Sense.
Plus, we kind of know that people either live on ships or in underwater habitats, but like, can you tell me more? How many of these places exist? Why are they not in danger from the attacks between Arya and her warships and Nerissa's ships? World building is definitely needed.

Which then leads me to food. Arya talks about packets (that do not need to be cooked) as a source of food, but there is no mention of meat until chapter 15! Halfway through the book! I get that the sci-fi element of the book is not the main focus (because there is little to no explanation for most things, and I am actually okay with that. I'd rather no description than wrong or makes-no-sense descriptions (please see above rant)). However, in chapter 15 we get the line, "Despite the lack of land, the little buggers (rats) thrive on ships." How? What the hell do they feed on? Then in chapter 17, Arya and James feast on some kind of meat, which is considered a rarity. I just want to know how this is possible? I totally get if meat is genetically engineered now and only given to the wealthy or something, but don't just leave me assuming. I want a bit more detail to appease the logical sense of my brain.

Lack of description and world building really kills me, especially when trying to tie-in all of the fairy tale retelling components. We are introduced to a group called the "Lost Boys" (obviously a Peter Pan reference), but I have no idea how or why these boys (and Wendi) are together in the first place. Peter loses his love, Lily, and his ship, Neverland, and we are introduced to Smeid and the Jolly Rodger (Hook is mysteriously missing); however, I literally have no idea why I should care about them. There is nothing leading up to these introductions, and nothing really to make me want to care about them at all. THOUGH, I do kind of care. I'm still interested, but I just. want. MORE.
There is also a disappointing lack of Little Mermaid references when compared to the Peter Pan references. I LOVE that Arya's sisters are important in this story (because, yes, girl power), but we also have poor character development with them as well. Referring to Nerissa as the "Sea Witch" is fine and all, but there could be so much more Ariel moments in the story.

Also, I just need to say that the romance of this book literally did nothing for me. I would have actually preferred it to be a slow-burn, where Arya and James learn how to rekindle their friendship and see if that romance from when they were TWELVE was actually truthful. OR if the way their lives had taken them had drifted them so far apart. The story kind of had that "everything fits together too perfectly" mold and I'm not here for it.

There were also some minor grammatical issues and a inconsistencies that caught my eye. Mostly, I noticed a few times where the authors/editors forgot quotations at the end or beginning of a conversation. There was also a time when Wendi's hair is described as chocolate brown and only a chapter later referred to as "onyx." I, in no way, see those two as the same hair color; to me, one is a rich brown and the other is straight black.

So, my final thoughts: Was it entertaining? Did I enjoy it? Yes. However, the problems I discussed above are major issues, and if they were corrected, the star rating would definitely go up. As it is though, I sadly have to give it a lower rating. I do think I would read the second book, and hopefully see more development in the characters and the story. It was definitely interesting. If I could sum up the story in one line, I would say it is a skeleton with great potential.
Overall rating: 3.25/5 stars!

[InkedBookDragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://inkedbookdragon.blogspot.com

I was hesitant with this book. I was not sure if the combination of the two worlds would work. Combining two dearly loved childhood worlds was a great risk. If executed properly, you have an amazing new look. If done improperly, you leave the readers with a deep sense of disappointment. It is very tricky. Not only did it work but it blended so perfectly that I was left in awe.

The beginning grabbed my attention. From the first page, I was transported into this amazing story. Beautifully written and captivating. The character development was astounding. Just the right combination of action and romance. It was so much fun picking out original story components. I was filled with a sense of nostalgia.

Thank you to the publisher for giving me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review. I am rating this book Five Stars because it had me from the moment I started. Such a great read! Also, the cover is superb. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series. They cannot get into my possession quick enough! I am highly recommending this!


InkedBookDragon

[Brodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an ARC at no cost from the author.*
Wow I was not expecting to like this as much as I did!
The dystopian/sci-fi twist to two older characters/stories perfectly blended with romance and chemistry with all the characters just makes this story totally unique and amazing.All of me hates Nerissa, but part of me loves to hate her! I can’t wait to see where the story goes in the next book and what happens to all of the characters.

[Dalal519 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

This book was full of fun, the adventures were good it wasn't boring I had a good time reading it

[Shaylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

***I received a no cost ARC from the author. ***

I have always loved Peter Pan and the amazingly awesome world he lived in. So when I heard of this book I wanted to read it. I have eaten this book up and loved it.

Arya is a fun spunky girl who is just so much fun to follow and her and James love is amazing. They are so cute.

Peter is probably my favorite character. I love his fun sarcastic attitude and funny banter he adds. He gives a lighter tone to the book.

It is such a different retelling then any other one I've read and it's super cool. I don't wanna spoil much so I will leave it at; If you love retelling, Peter pan, adventure, etc. then read this book. You'll love it. :)

(I hadn't read for a while so I'm glad this was the book that helped me get back into reading books again.)

[Veronica Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Not my normal genre that I grab and yet I found NeverSea to be a very interesting read. (and look at this cover!!)
I have always said I read everything and anything and I guess that is not really true but I do enjoy most all genre's.
I never thought I would enjoy a sci-fi (ish) book, but I was pleasantly surprised.
This story is very fast paced with a LOT of action. I did feel it was a bit rushed in the beginning, I almost felt confused or maybe there was not enough "background" or "build up" for my reading taste . In all fairness it could just be this was my first sci-fi type book and I had no idea what to expect. Either way I found this to be a very enjoyable read that was fast paced. I look forward to reading the next in this series.
**I received an ARC at no cost from the author** Thank you!

[Jessica Johansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first, I wasn't sure how the Little Mermaid and Peter Pan would work together, but after finishing this book all I can say is, "Wow!"

A beautiful blend of fairy tale and action, it was absolutely wonderful to see how the stories played out and worked together in NeverSea. It took me a bit to get into, but once I did it was gone in a flash.

A quick pace, young love, great chemistry, and a wicked villain have combined to create a great cast of characters. The interactions between characters were believable and entertaining, and I can't wait to see where they head next!

If you love fairy tales with some action, check this out! You won't regret it!

*I received an ARC at no cost from the author.*

[Jennifer Lil'n Dunski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!

I can't get enough. I love these characters, I love the world building and I love the storyline! This is so different from different from what I normally read and I couldn't put it down! I love Sela's character. She's got an innocence too her yet she's so badass! And Jack, sweet immature Jack. I can't wait for the next book!!!

[SUZAN C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Young love and a dystopian future - what could possibly be better? In the novel, NeverSea, the tale tells of a group of friends who were turned into some kind of mutant with superhuman powers. Set sometime in a dystopian world, the land of Earth is mostly encompassed in water thereby making it almost inhabitable to humans. A crazed and zealous scientist by the name of Dr. Nerissa Meyers is determined to make humans thrive in the water world by giving them superhuman powers. Sounds like a fun superhero story right? Well, it is so much more and judging by the cover of this book, the beautiful red-haired siren is magnificent.
The main heroine, Arya is blessed or "cursed" with enhancements that help her breathe and swim better underwater. She was given gills, speed, and strength as part of the doctor's first test subject. Along with the other test subjects are her "sisters" who were given similar enhancements but not as comprehensive as Arya's. Peter, who has some kind of powers of flight and incredible strength is Arya's childhood friend as well as James, who becomes her love interest.
Ah, James...he is your quintessential sweet boyfriend who tries to protect Arya while not denying his place at the facility. As the stepson of Dr. Nerissa, he is also enhanced although we don't really know his full potentials in the first book.
After a daring escape from the test facility, Arya, James, and Peter become separated only to meet up years later with very hurt feelings and a lot of misunderstanding and mistrust. However, the feelings are still there between Arya and James and Arya and Peter reluctantly become friends again.
The climatic ending draws you into another book in the series as we're left wondering what will happen to Arya and her friends. Will Dr. Nerissa create more mutant superhumans or will Arya win in the end?
NeverSea is a fast paced story with intense moments and thrilling descriptions. It is a sweet read of young love, friendship, and loyalty. The characters are beautifully written and the heroine, Arya is depicted as a strong, smart, yet naive girl who fights in a war in order to win her freedom and the freedom of those she loves. Arya reminds me of a young Queen Mera, the wife of Aquaman and Peter is cleverly described similar to Peter Pan with some supporting characters reminiscent of the Peter Pan stories.
Thank you for the ARC of NeverSea!

[Sarah Marriott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

What a wonderful combination of childhood fantasies! It was so clever how the authors merged the underwater world of Ariel with the skies of Peter Pan. I loved the interaction between the two main characters- Arya and Pan and how they developed their special "powers."

Not only were these characters integrated in a dystopian context, but we also get to see"Tinkerbell," "Smee" and other characters come to life.

As much as I loved the concept, the development of the story was lacking. There is not much backstory for our characters. Character and setting descriptions are lacking. I would have loved if the authors would have slowed down and lived in the story a little more.

[Zaynab · Rating 1 out of 5]

Obtained this book via an ARC.

This is one of my first reviews, but I feel like I have read enough books, particularly YA Sci-fi, to be have a good understanding of what makes a good or bad book.

And it comes up mediocre.

There are both somewhat commendable and somewhat poor aspects, although neither in extremes.


What I enjoyed included the premise itself, which was very interesting. Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid are a good pairing, out on an eternal ocean, plagued by a sea witch. The possibilities were endless. I was captured right away, considering that the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer are my favourite books, I adore fairy tale retellings.

I found the writing wasn’t bad at all, it was correct grammatically as far as I can tell. I didn’t get frustrated reading the book, it was quite a smooth read. Perhaps a little too smooth as I kept drifting off. Interestingly enough I’d find that I hadn’t really missed much when I got back into it. But many of the twists and turns were good, subtle and unexpected. Tink was great!! I love androids and she was pretty perfectly captured as one.


But in reading the book it became apparent that it wasn’t as good as it appeared at first glance.

Firstly, my biggest issue was characterisation. They had no personalities. What little they had was one dimensional and without reason. Sometimes characterisation even changed, my perception of Peter in the beginning was as being scared and reserved when he later turned out to be cheeky and brash, although I understand that it could likely be a protection mechanism.
Ariel- sorry, Arya- was a nothing person. There was none of the curiosity and optimism that made the original Disney Ariel so wonderful. She might have been a bit rebellious, but didn’t really have any defining traits. James was also totally dull. I could have enjoyed the sweet parts of him, but they too were not strong enough to make them definitively his traits.
Dull characters perfectly suited to one another.
Character interactions were weak, sometimes the same dialogue would continue over and over with no way forwards. Overall, I felt nothing for the characters and did not particularly care for their fate.

“She's not that frail little sister anymore. Well, she’s still young, but she’s different now. Life has hardened her.” Thanks for explaining that.

In all honesty, I don’t see what the big deal was. I almost agree with Nerissa; having the ability to breathe underwater and to fly would be incredibly useful in a planet covered in water. I also couldn’t really see any negative effects of those abilities, apart from the unsightliness of Arya’s gills, but they never explicitly said they were suffering in any other way. I understand there was the issue of using people’s bodies without their consent, but surely there could be some people who would consent? The motivations for many of their actions were weak, and everything seemed fairly low stakes, with no real purpose.

“Peter glances at me. “Arya and I are not coming back to your freak-making factory. You stole our lives.”
Nerissa clicks her tongue. “Why do you view things that way? I improved you. I made your survival on this forsaken planet viable. It’s harsh out in the NeverSea. Every advantage you have, the better off you are. Without them, you’d be nothing. Everyone should be improved.”” I kind of agree...

A few things didn’t really make sense. For example, how could a group of teenage boys take control of an entire island? Why would anyone let or want that to happen? Why is there just one piece of land sticking out of nowhere? How on earth did the lost boys manage to lose a freaking island!? A lot of the writing seemed quite lazy. And let’s not even get started on the science…

“Zoe narrows her eyes at Peter, then sighs. “You gotta promise me you’re taking Neverland back. I can’t handle the Sea Witch any longer.”” How???

I would have preferred to have seen more about all of their lives before they decided to do any of this, to better understand why they went after Nerissa. Also in terms of description, it was quite lacking. I couldn’t really envision what any of the places or people looked like, except for James - and when everything else was so sparse the excess descriptions of him felt like too much. When I can’t imagine what a world looks like in a book, it’s harder to follow along.

“Turning, I find a pair of bright, azure irises staring directly at me. Set against sepia skin, his crystal-clear gaze highlights his handsome, blossoming face. Even at eleven, I know he’s something special.”

To conclude, I feel as though this book is still in its first draft, and should never have been published at this stage. But if you’re looking to read something quite easy to pass the time, go for it. I doubt it will leave a lasting impression, however, and I’d really recommend reading something more worth your time (e.g. The Lunar Chronicles, the first being Cinder, as mentioned earlier ;) ). I really do wish it had been better.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. When I heard about a book with the concept of Peter Pan, I couldn’t refuse. Loved every bit, and definitely made my day. It’s a not to be missed story when it comes out.

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two loved fairy tales in one with an added dystopian twist.
A high-action combination of The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan. Arya and Peter take us on an adventure as they try to save other children from a fate similar to theirs. The authors even included the rest of the characters from these fairy tales; those that we have come to know and love (or hate). I enjoyed every minute of this book and look forward to reading book 2! Thanks for a clean, yet exciting, read.
I received an ARC of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

[Katie_Living_in_Bookland · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just couldn't do it. It was so horrible. The story was bland, the characters were bland, I had absolutely no idea what was going on or why the characters were doing what they were doing because it didn't seem all that important to them. It had no original thought, everything felt like it was a carbon copy of the original fairytales, with just a few differences.

I was really trying to push myself to finish the book. Peter's character had a lot of potential I thought, and I liked Tink, but everything else was so bad. Arya was so annoying, but I couldn't even hate her because she had no character, she had nothing to hate because she was so bland. James was this weird side character that added nothing but a love interest for Arya and they didn't even seem that good together. She just pined over him and couldn't think when she was around him, even though there was a stinking war going on and she shouldn't be focusing on him. All the other characters in this book just seemed like fillers and their only purpose was to keep the story moving along instead of giving the book personality and adding a lot of interesting, complicated characters.

The story was almost worse. We are thrust into this world that we know nothing about, nothing is given about the character's and their lives, other than they are being experimented on and children are dying and being taken from their parents. There is nothing about the antagonist, other than it seems she wants power for no reason whatsoever. We do know the planet has been swallowed by the water and they need a way for humans to be able to survive without land. She is creating people who can fly or breath underneath the water, or she's trying, but all her test subjects are dying. We pretty much know nothing else about this world. I would like to have known more about this world where there is no more land, where everyone has to live on vessels, or undersea communities (which, by the way we know nothing about because it isn't explained how this came to be). We're told about all these places, but never shown. Really, this book was a bunch of telling and not showing.

I did get through the 72% of it within a day or two, but started giving up after that. At first I had just been trying to get through it quickly so I could see if it got better or would perhaps be worth continuing the series. I just couldn't do it anymore, though. The dialog was cheesy and nothing was believable in here. One moment Arya is all about defeating Nerissa and using James as bait, talking about him like he's her enemy, and then the next she can hardly think because he has grown into such a dashing young man. You'd think that after all the things that had happened to her and the people she supposedly cares for she would really be focused on getting rid of Nerissa, not swooning over a childhood crush. It made me nauseous.

I really wanted to love this book, but I just couldn't. The only reason it got a two star rating it because I did think that Peter had some potential and Tink was a cute character. So much potential, but it read like a first or second draft and felt like it needed a few years more work before being published.

This is my personal opinion and I do not judge anyone who my have enjoyed this book. It did have some great potential, but it did not work for me in the end.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This water based world puts you smack in the middle of the sea after floods consume the earth. It’s action packed fighting with the evil Syndicate wanting to do experiments on children to adapt but with no choice in the matter and many do not survive. Loved the characters, especially the strong women who are fighting for their right to live freely.

[Camillea Camillea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounding up my rating to 3.5 stars.

A Peter Pan and Little Mermaid crossover?! How could I not pick up this book??

This book is explosive action, science fiction, dystopian, and TWO fairytale retellings! I love hybrid genres!

My reading experience with NeverSea was good overall. It was page after page of fast pace action; the plot was light hearted yet driven. The authors have wonderful descriptions especially mixing simple language with technical terms to describe something like Peter's flying abilities. Reading NeverSea you know these authors fit in so well into the dystopian and science fiction genre. I loved Peter Pan for his sarcastic, short temper, and genuine kindness. Him and Arya are just perfect, murderous siblings.

I was engrossed in this book from start to finish. I literally couldn't put it down! I loved the take on Tinkerbell especially <3

There were some eeny meeny things that bothered me though:

1. Character backstory is little to none. We're skipping from one timeline to another to another during the beginning. In my opinion, this was too rushed. It's what happened in between these timelines that makes NeverSea's storyline crucial. For example, what happened after Peter left Arya? Where did he go? How did Arya and the Sisters survive? Who is Nerissa exactly?

These little holes gaped at me which made it feel as though there was a lack of character development.

What I would have liked to see was the novel provide the separate storylines for Peter and Arya. I wouldn't have minded waiting until book two for them to get together if I was given more information about Peter and the Lost Boys, Arya and her sisters survival, and the world Nerissa was building.

2. Arya's romance (or dare I say, obssession) with James overshadowed her personality. The romance felt out of place? Like, it was too rushed.

3. The world description was very, very sparse. You know how much world history is important to me! So the lack of description really ate at my brains! Why are lands being flooded? Why have we no maps? What is the rest of the world doing? Nerissa can't be the only one thinking of modifying humans!

I look forward to reading book two!!

I received an ARC at no cost from the authors, however, all opinions are my own. Follow me at Camillea Reads and on IG: biblio.khaleesi for more bookish adventures.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

How often do we have a chance to read a YA book written by two authors, combining two points of view and describing events from male and female perspectives? “NeverSea” is one of these unique stories.

The events take place on dystopian Earth with very unwelcoming conditions. And diving into such an atmosphere is way more pleasant when dear characters like Peter Pan and Ariel accompany you.

It was probably Peter Pan whom I wanted to meet most of all and, to my great content, he won me over from his very first appearance and guided me through the story as my favorite character. He is everything I, and perhaps his many fans, expected him to be: witty, irresistible, courageous and deeply true to the few ones whom he loves and trusts. Despite being called egoist never does he abandon anyone who needs his help be it his friend, foe or a total stranger. So if you’re looking for a retelling about Peter Pan or if you simply want a perfect book boyfriend, this Peter is everything listed above 😎

I can’t say the same about Arya, the female protagonist. She didn’t become my favorite. But I find it rather appealing: to me, she is hot-headed and quick to judge, which makes it both difficult to fully support her and at the same time doesn’t prevent from feeling for her. She is very strong and puts others’ needs first which is admirable. And following the story which centers on two such different characters as Peter and Arya is truly thrilling.

There’s also James whom we know as Captain Hook. In “NeverSea” we enounter him at the beginning of his story. The authors surprised me with the way they developed his character, I wasn’t expecting him to be the way he is in this book. I would say James is the most pure and innocent among the protagonists. And as for the fairytale elements such as his hook and the reason for him to become Peter Pan’s sworn enemy and a villain at all - I’m very impressed with the way authors presented these twists...

If I were to choose one thing to change about this book I would suggest redesigning the cover. Maybe make it darker and more mysterious and add Peter Pan.

The story is filled with the sense of adventure and pirate spirit. Classical fairytale elements are smoothly combined with dystopian and scientific ones. And a new version of Tinker Bell is a bonus reason to dive into “NeverSea”.

[Addy the Book Bat · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC at no cost from the author.
Set in a dystopian future where the earth is almost entirely consumed by water, Arya and Peter are two of the many genetically modified humans as part of the Syndicate's research to create a human species that can survive underwater. When news breaks out of the Syndicate's leader, Nerissa, using younger children for her mutations leaks our, Arya bands together with Peter Pan and the Lost Boys to take down the evil witch and reclaim their Neverland home and put an end to the mutations.

I am a sucker for fairytale retellings so when I found out Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid were in a story together, I was very intrigued and was even more intrigued by the description. I really liked how both fairytales were incorporated together as one story and not shoved together, if that makes sense. It did have elements that related it to the original stories while also making it completely unique to the author.

In addition, the characters developed nicely and didn't drastically change into a completely different person. Also, I loved the "sibling" love the two main characters had for each other, it made me love them even more.

The novel itself was action packed and fast-paced, sometimes a little too fast-paced. To add on, I felt as if there wasn't much say on the character's backgrounds or descriptions. We get the general idea of Arya from the cover but what about Peter or the others. I would've also liked more content about our main characters, what happened before they were taken for research or clear indication of where Neverland is.

Other than that, I really enjoyed this and would recommend to those who also like fairytale retellings or are fans of The Lunar Chronicles or Heartless.

Bonus points for alternating points of views from Arya and Peter.

[Nikole Clow · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an ARC at no cost from the author.*

This book was such a fun ride! I loved the idea of weaving two fairytale retellings together, and mixing in the genres dystopian and sci-fi. Reading from both Arya and Peter’s perspectives really brought the story together, and I was able to watch as the characters developed.

What I enjoyed the most about NeverSea:

The fairytale retellings: I thoroughly enjoyed this unique retelling of The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan. NeverSea is unlike any other retelling I have read; it was a perfect blend of fairytale retelling and sci-fi, two genres I hold close to my heart.

The battle scenes: the authors did a fantastic job writing the action scenes. There was not too much description and not too little. I felt like I was there battling alongside Arya and Peter!

The intense moments: Throughout the story, there are many moments where the characters have heated conversations, or in this case, intense moments. These intense scenes helped explain some of the tensions between the characters and the past and why those characters are the way they are.
Though I enjoyed NeverSea, I would have liked to have seen more of the tension between Arya and her love interest. I won’t spoil it, but something happens at the beginning of the novel that creates tension between the two characters; I would have liked to see that tension and the emotions last longer than they did. I would have also enjoyed to read more about the characters backgrounds and what happened in the early years before Arya and Perter become test subjects.

NeverSea is fast-paced and leaves you wanting more and wondering what will happen to these beloved characters. I will definitely be reading the next book! If you enjoy fairytale retellings, intense battle scenes, and beautifully described characters, NeverSea is a book for you!

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Neversea is a fast-paced re-imagining of classic fairy tale characters in dystopian circumstances.
The world has flooded and the human race is condemned to floating on the surface of the ocean in whatever ship they can find. To adapt to this change in circumstances, the evil 'Sea Witch' Nerissa experiments on kidnapped children to take humanity to the next level. Two of her experiments are Arya and Peter. Can they take back control of their lives and the destiny of Neversea? Or will Nerissa achieve her goal of dominating Neversea and everyone on it?
(I received an advance reader copy of this book at no cost from the author.)

This story has quite a few time jumps at the beginning. We get glimpses into the pasts of these characters so that we understand the dynamics between them and the stakes of what they're trying to accomplish. It's an interesting start, a bit disjointed at first, but necessary.
The story really picks up at the mid point and it is a race to the finish from this point on. Sea battles, plots and counter plots, betrayals and broken hearts. There is so much packed into the second half of the book that it flew by for me.
The characters are interesting and the world vivid and well developed. I was especially interested in the combination of 'super powers' and technology.
At the end, there are a couple twists that had me even more interested in the story and desperate to know what would happen next.
The only weaknesses are the choppy beginning and a general tendency for cheesy dialogue--but that can be overlooked when there are so many other qualities to enjoy. The last half of the book and the developments toward the end made this a 4 out of 5 stars for me.

[Lene Blackthorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very unique setup of dystopian sci-fi with the elements of two classical fairytales that you simply must fall in love with.
Arya was subject to a genetic engineering experiments that altered her body and equipped her for better survival in the world almost consumed by water. When she escaped the lab together with her sisters and formed the resistance, she set her ultimate goal to bring down Nerissa, the mad and cold-hearted scientist that kidnaps children to test her theories and changes their bodies. During one of the Sisters’ attacks on the Syndicate ships, Arya saves the lives of her former friend Peter and old crush James, Nerissa’s son. In order to succeed in their mission, they must join their forces and form unlikely alliances to even stand a chance.
I absolutely loved this book. Dystopian world, technologically advanced to survive the harsh conditions of the flooded world, that itself would be enough to create a spellbinding background for a good story. But when you throw in the elements of two well-known fairytales – the little mermaid impersonated by Arya and Peter Pan coming to life in Peter’s character, then the pull is irresistible.
Amazing plot full of surprises and twists, fast development, lots of action, adventure, and suspense, complicated relationships, and difficult living conditions, that all are great assets of this story. To up it more, the characters were really interesting and complex, likeable despite their flaws, and easy to connect with. Observing their growing up and maturing with every decision they had to take was a great reading experience, and I totally enjoyed it.
I would recommend this book to all dystopian, sci-fi, and fantasy fans, and I am looking forward to continue Arya’s journey as soon as possible.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

*I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review*
3.5 stars. The premise of this book intrigued me. A mix of The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan, and sci-fi elements? Sign me up for that!

I did enjoy NeverSea. It was relatively well written, there was plenty of action to keep me engaged, yet not so much that it was over done, and the merging of the two tales was really interesting. It was also equally The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan. It didn't feel like characters from The Little Mermaid had been placed into a mainly Peter Pan setting, and vice versa, which was something I was worried about before reading the book, so I'm happy with how that turned out.

That being said, I did have some issues with the characters themselves. There wasn't anything specifically wrong with them, but that's sort of the issue. I didn't overly love them, but I didn't really hate them either. They were just kind of bland. The only element that made me feel something was the relationship between Peter and Arya, cause I'm a sucker for cute sibling bonds.

I also found the beginning of the book a little disorienting. After a series of time jumps, you're thrown into the present day which wasn't too bad. What really got to me is, after the time jumps. I still had hardly any idea of what was going on. I was a little confused about the world at first too, and had a hard time picturing the events at the beginning of the book. But that was only at the beginning. As the book progressed, this issue petered out, and I was able to picture majority of the book with ease.

On the whole though, the authors really did well with this book, and I can't wait for the second one to come out.

[JenMarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

http://www.thecoffeestainedbooks.com

I received this book as an Advance Readers Copy for an honest review.

I was so excited to start this book. When it popped up in my email, my excitement to read another one of Jenetta’s novels had me going. Especially if it was a collab. However…. immediately after starting, there were some issues.

The first chapter (prelude) was jumping in years with WAY to much nonsense that I felt was unnecessary. Honestly it wasn’t what I pictured a good starter would be. I figured something a little more personal. Not in the form of data.

My biggest problem with NeverSea is that it moved way to fast. Half way through the novel and you are still on the same day. The day seemed it would never end. Honestly, there was too much going on. I felt as though it should have been broken down as a span of a couple of days.

Now that I got that out of the way. The characters.

in NeverSea, you are following two main characters. Peter and Arya. Two genetically modified teens who were forced into experimentation as young children. Peter has the ability to fly, among other abilities. Arya has the ability to breathe under water with the sonar sensitivity as a dolphin.

The summary points that this is a Little Mermaid and Peter Pan retelling with a sci-fi twist, must like the Lunar Chronicles. However, I felt as though there was no connection to the characters. Peter was too obsessed with finding Tiger Lilly and Arya with revenge that they didn’t really click with their peers, who look to them for guidance.

All in all, this book deserves a disappointing 2 stars, but because of the interesting retelling, I give it an honest three.

[Adena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this dystopian take on Peter Pan and the Little Mermaid. Familiar characters from the fairy tales are artfully woven into the tale, which takes place on a futuristic water covered world. Kidnapped in their youth and subjected to experiments that gave them special powers - Peter the abilitiy to fly, and Arya the ability to breathe underwater - these youngsters lead a rebellion against the evil scientist who controls a considerable army. The plot moves quickly, with lots of action and not a lot of time for our heroes to rest in between battles. Although they have special powers, they also have advanced technology, living in ships and submarines as they try to reclaim the floating habitat called NeverLand.

The point of view changes back and forth mainly from Peter to Arya, with a chapter here or there told by one of the other characters. Each character narrates in the first person, bringing the reader deeper into the story and giving us insight into the characters' motives. As this is "book one", do not expect everything to be resolved at the end of the book. I loved the way the authors took two dimensional storybook characters and gave them a real life, full of not only adventures, but heartbreak, disappointment, hopes, dreams, and a realistic quality instead of merely being relegated to fantasy. (It very much reminds me of learning about the true lives of the romanticized characters of the wild west.) I fell in love with these characters. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

[Steph Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC of this book. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*

Neversea is a sci-fi adventure mashup of Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid (the Disney version I’m assuming from the name and hair colour). A large part of the fun here, as with any ‘twisted’ tale, is spotting the references to the original works and characters in their new incarnation, for example ‘Tink’ the security drone or Nerissa the ‘Sea Witch’.

This enjoyment applies to the plot structure as well as the characters. The main plotline is a new story about reclaiming lost people and property from the evil scientist performing genetic experiments on her unwilling subjects, intertwined with a love story that crosses the two original source tales and binds them together, yet there is a thrill in picking out the plotline nods to hooks, crocodiles and stolen voices.

The target audience is teen/YA so the romance and violence are clean, and the main focus is on the action sequences and the character arcs. I have a soft spot for Peter who seems to be maligned and misunderstood throughout, whilst still supporting his friends and trying to do the right thing. Arya is a bit of a stranger mixture (and I don’t mean genetically), as she veers from professional and competent to mooning stroppy teen, but I guess given her history, age and the context of the story that this is actually a fairly realistic character arc she is following!

I would recommend this to fans of YA sci-fi adventure and also to fans of twisted fairytales, as a well-written take on all of the above.

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to start this review off by saying this - I LOVE fairytales and I also adore re-tellings (Once Upon A Time is one of my top TV shows), so when I heard about 'NeverSea' being a sci-fi re-telling of 'The Little Mermaid' and 'Peter Pan', I could not wait to dig my claws into this book. I was so excited when Torment Publishing contacted me and asked if I would like an e-copy of the 'NeverSea' ARC to review and pretty much jumped into the story straight away.

While 'The Little Mermaid' is not one of my favourite Disney movies, I do have a great love for 'Peter Pan' (especially after the live action version from 2003, cause dayum Jeremy Sumpter is a very attractive human being). I loved the modern twist on the two fairytales and it was really interesting to read about a world that had been completely flooded by water. This was a very fast-paced story and I overall enjoyed reading about the different characters and seeing how they evolved as they faced different challenges. 

The only thing I didn't like about 'NeverSea' was how easily the characters were able to forgive each other for past hurts, I felt like it wasn't very realistic, and the romance in it was a bit unrealistically fast-paced as well. But besides this, it was a great book and I definitely recommend it, the cliffhanger at the end frustrated me so much (as it does for most books) and I can't wait for the sequel (which it is going to feel like I'm waiting FOREVER for)!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free eARC in exchange for an honest review*

I love retellings, and this was a great start to a new series. This story was very fast paced and I probably could have read it in one sitting if I didn't have to do adult things (like cleaning =/). The story starts off with Arya and Peter inside the Syndicate being tested on and altered "for the greater good". They break out one day and then we jump forward a couple of years to where the main story takes place. Their sole mission in life is to take down the Syndicate. Albeit Peter and Arya both have different reasons for taking them down, but it boils down to revenge and making sure that what happened to them doesn't happen to anyone else. The authors merged the two stories very well into one, and gave each one their own spin to it. Many of the elements from the original stories were very much evident in this one, and I liked how they were fitted into this dystopian world. 

This story wasn't without it's flaws though. The plot is there and it moves fairly quickly to keep you entertained. However, I wish there was more backstory to the characters so that we can have a better connection to them other than their current situation. I wish there was also a little bit more of a world building. For instance, why is the Earth covered in water? What happened for the NeverSea to take shape? 

Hopefully the next book will answer some of the questions for me! 

[Kanyon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It’s like a mashup of The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan, but in a sci-fi dystopian world. I think it reads more for a teen audience, so in that sense I’d be more adapt to compare it to the Divergent or Cinder from the Lunar Chronicles series. The beginning of this book had me hooked. It didn’t spend too much time on the characters’ lives when they were young, but gave me just enough detail that had me flipping through the pages to see what was going to happen next. I have to say I loved the romance and sci-fi elements that put an enjoyable twist on the beloved fairy-tale classics (which is just up my alley). I can’t wait to see what happens in book two! The book is very fast paced and reads well with plenty of action!

Neversea is the first book in an exciting new series, Echoes of the Lost. I would recommend this book to teens and adults who enjoy reading fairy-tale sci-fi retellings.

I voluntarily received and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

Final Rating: 5 Stars

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not terrible—not amazing. I loved the premise of the novel: a dystopian future mixed with elements of The Little Mermaid and Peter Pan. I really liked that there was no love triangle. I read the whole book, so it wasn't annoying, but it also wasn't very captivating. I didn't feel like the world was very well developed; there were hints of more information to come but I feel like what the author wanted us to already know wasn't really explained.

I did enjoy the character of Tinkerbell.

I do wonder that the evil baddy had to kidnap children to experiment on. If the world had basically ended and humanity was doomed to die, wouldn't people be lining up for experiments on themselves or their children? We're a species who loves to not die, and in natural evolution, we have no choice in the matter anyway and a lot die in that process anyway. If we're doomed, shouldn't we be eager to try something, anything?

I liked one line of the dialogue, but even it was frustrating because of the comma splice. Editors, where are you? Would a semi-colon have ruined anything? A colon? An em-dash? Or even a simple period? There are so many punctuation marks that would have been grammatically correct. (Oh my goodness. When did I become that annoying person??)


"'Shut up, Pan. At least I kept us all alive. You almost destroyed us.'

I lift from the deck and glide up to Mateo, stopping inches from his face. 'You're not alive, you're just dying too slowly to notice.'"

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an ARC and boy am I excited for the next installment!! I love fairy-tale retellings and this one had characters you recognize from classics. The two main fairy-tales we focus on (for now) are Peter Pan and The Little Mermaid, but towards the end I feel like we get a hint of another fairy tale. To be honest neither of those stories were my favorite growing up but this is done in a way that kept me wanting for more.

We open up with Ayra, a young girl (with red hair) who has been experimented on by a scientist named Nerissa to have gills. This scientist, also called the Sea Witch by kids she experimented on, has also changed Peter to fly, strength, and a longer lifespan. She's married to Thatcher who has a son named James, who is best friends with Ayra and later romantically involved with her. Ayra, Peter, and the sisters (girls who are similar to Ayra) escape and we timeskip. Jumping forward all three of our main characters (Ayra, Peter, and James) have not seen each other since they were children but fate intervenes bringing them all together.

This story was very well put together and the characters are all enjoyable and motives are understandable. I really enjoyed the ending because there are events that happen that you do not see coming but leaving you wishing the sequel was out already! Recommend for those who enjoy YA, dystopia, scifi, adventure, fairy-tale retellings, and of course romance.