She no longer wants to be a part of his world. But he must convince her to save it...
Ashe is one mission away from earning her soul. Nearly three centuries after her disastrous on-land escapade, the former mermaid has a final assignment: protect a marine biologist on his quest to save the oceans. Perhaps it's pure coincidence that Varun Zale is the descendant of the prince she once chose not to kill.
Varun can't explain how storms obey Ashe or why her eye color changes to match the tossing waves, but he suspects she is more than the mute ship captain she pretends to be. His growing fascination leads him from the shallows of a fairy tale to the depths of a mystery older than recorded time. In the midnight reaches of the ocean, monstrous titans stir. An unstoppable disease becomes a weapon in the hands of the mer-king.
Nothing Varun has ever imagined or believed about mermaids is true. And being wrong could cost him everything...
Jade Kerrion, an award-winning author, got her start in fan fiction. She developed a loyal reader base with her fan fiction series based on the MMORPG Guild Wars. She was accused of keeping her readers up at night, distracting them from work, housework, homework, and (far worse), from actually playing Guild Wars.
And then she wondered why just screw up the time management skills of gamers? Why not aspire to screw everyone else up too? So here she is, writing books that aspire to keep you from doing anything else useful with your time.
She lives in Fort Lauderdale, Florida with her wonderfully supportive husband and her two young sons, Saint and Angel, (no, those aren't their real names, but they are like saints and angels, except when they're not.)
Soooo.......we have Ashe, the mute, intelligent and strong woman who is the captain of the research vessel, Veritas, and Varun, a marine biologist who is determined to save the dying sea.
This is the first retelling I've read of the "Little mermaid". Ashe, a Daughter of Air (an Air sylph, basically) is determined to complete one last mission to finally earn a soul, which mermaids (or the Beltiamatu, as they are referred to in this book) are born without. This particular task requires her to safeguard Varun Zale, a descendant of the prince that Ashe, a royal of the Beltiamatu gave up her tail and voice to be with three hundred years ago.
Ariel gave up her tail and voice for love and so did Ashe ( or Asherah, her birth name which I'm currently swooning over.....because, come on! That sounds damn cool......to me, atleast). Only, Ashe didn't give it up for the same kind of love as Ariel. You'll know it when you read it.
The book dragged in a few places. Minor, minor issues in grammar and spelling. They can easily be glossed over.
I actually found myself feeling sorry for Varun's girlfriend, Ondine. Some might find her clingy or whiny but all I could feel was pity.
There is NO ROMANCE in this book. No, Non, Nyet, Never.
A fun read. I recommend it if you're just browsing through and really don't have any book in mind to read.
The story of the Little Mermaid is treated to a modern revival, shaped, twisted and spit out as a different truth - one that, while still painting Ariel (Ashe in this book) as naive, gives her far more valid and even noble reasons. That lauded love? It’s a lie... at least the way the story books tell it - but the truth behind that lie sets the stage for this epic quest, almost 300 years after the mermaid was supposed to be sea foam. It’s fast, a touch confusing in places and brutally emotional.
Third person, multiple POV, PNR/Fantasy Cliffhanger Rating = Upper YA to R, not for sexual content, but this just seems to ooze a dark feel. M/F Character age range = adult
Pros: - Love a good revision. - I get her... and that’s painful. - The story, and the reasons, don’t really become clear till much later in the book. - I adore that parrot.
Cursed Tides is a very unique book that is well written by Jade Kerrion. This author is well versed and I enjoy that she doesn't just write about just one paranormal "creature". I am an absolute fan of her "Double Helix" series and really enjoyed the first book I read of her "Aeternae Noctis" series (and trust me I will read the others) and now she goes into a totally different direction with this book. Strangely I haven't really read a lot of books with mermaids or mer-folk in them, so it is refreshing that the author picked this topic. She pretty much has free reign and gosh, she brought so much to the table that I am still trying to wrap my head around it all.
The book starts of fairly easy but soon you are thrown into a whirlwind of an imaginative plot that makes this book hard to put down. The plot is very well developed with some nice twists I didn't see coming. There is definitely a nice "whose done it" in there and even at the end there is a little "no way" that I really enjoyed a lot. The pace is just right. The author never rushes you through the story nor does she drag it out. There is a nice string of action that makes sense leading the reader beautifully through this well thought through modern day "little mermaid", that is however so much more!
Ashe is an extremely likable character and I really enjoyed what the author did with her and how she came up with this character. I liked the tie in, with what I can't tell you since I don't really enjoy spoilers. Her little sidekick "parrot" is a cute addition to her that rounds out her character beautifully.
Varun is an interesting character. When you read the book he seems so much older than his age. At one point the author mentions his age, I think it was like 28 or something, but when you read the book I somehow pictured him more like in his late 30's for some reason, not sure why that is. Maybe because he comes across so mature. He is definitely a strong male lead, but also incredible stubborn and really doesn't listen much to reason, aka Ashe :)
This is definitely a great book. It is unique and that alone brings so much to the table. But for those who think that is not enough, it is also very well written, has some simmering romance, a great plot and a mystery that needs to be solved. There is definitely a conclusion this book but the author left it so that there can and am pretty sure will be more books to follow, and yes I will be reading those when they come out because I for one really enjoyed reading this book!
Cursed Tides is a very unique book that is well written by Jade Kerrion. This author is well versed and I enjoy that she doesn't just write about just one paranormal "creature". I am an absolute fan of her "Double Helix" series and really enjoyed the first book I read of her "Aeternae Noctis" series (and trust me I will read the others) and now she goes into a totally different direction with this book. Strangely I haven't really read a lot of books with mermaids or mer-folk in them, so it is refreshing that the author picked this topic. She pretty much has free reign and gosh, she brought so much to the table that I am still trying to wrap my head around it all.
The book starts of fairly easy but soon you are thrown into a whirlwind of an imaginative plot that makes this book hard to put down. The plot is very well developed with some nice twists I didn't see coming. There is definitely a nice "whose done it" in there and even at the end there is a little "no way" that I really enjoyed a lot. The pace is just right. The author never rushes you through the story nor does she drag it out. There is a nice string of action that makes sense leading the reader beautifully through this well thought through modern day "little mermaid", that is however so much more!
Ashe is an extremely likable character and I really enjoyed what the author did with her and how she came up with this character. I liked the tie in, with what I can't tell you since I don't really enjoy spoilers. Her little sidekick "parrot" is a cute addition to her that rounds out her character beautifully.
Varun is an interesting character. When you read the book he seems so much older than his age. At one point the author mentions his age, I think it was like 28 or something, but when you read the book I somehow pictured him more like in his late 30's for some reason, not sure why that is. Maybe because he comes across so mature. He is definitely a strong male lead, but also incredible stubborn and really doesn't listen much to reason, aka Ashe :)
This is definitely a great book. It is unique and that alone brings so much to the table. But for those who think that is not enough, it is also very well written, has some simmering romance, a great plot and a mystery that needs to be solved. There is definitely a conclusion this book but the author left it so that there can and am pretty sure will be more books to follow, and yes I will be reading those when they come out because I for one really enjoyed reading this book!
The oceans are dying and Varun is determined to figure out the reason why. He's on an oceanic expedition and things are far from easy. The ship's captain can tell that something is wrong...having once been a mermaid she can feel the difference in the water and the surrounding atmosphere being a Daughter of Air. She's one mission away from her goal...acquiring a soul. All she wants is to be free, but Varun is going to need her help if he is going to succeed at helping save the oceans from those who are destroying it with each slash of their talons. Cursed Tides by Jade Kerrion is a fascinating paranormal novel. I couldn't put this book down. I love how the author blends The Little Mermaid with this story and creates a whole new twist and takes it further. Ashe is a fascinating character. The author holds true to things in the original story concerning her and nothing has changed almost 3 centuries later. Everything is tied together so beautifully that I couldn't resist delving deeper into this story. The characters are complex, engaging, and the storytelling is beautiful. I appreciate the level of mystery that the author brings to this story. Why are those who call the ocean home destroying it? Why do they say that Ashe began it all with her choices so many years ago? The author artfully raises these questions and then answers them at the right times. I am being completely honest when I say that there is not much that I don't like about this book. The characters are engaging, the storyline makes this book hard to put down and I love the twists and surprises that the author writes into the story. I will admit that I find some aspects a bit flawed, but as it's fiction...I'll let it go. But some of Ashe's interactions with the parrot normally would raise suspicions about her a lot sooner under normal circumstances. All in all, I am rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. I am more than eager to read the next book in this series. The author has created such unique characters and it reminds me of another series that I have been enjoying reading. I'd almost love for there to be a tie-in between the two as I think that it would be something truly fascinating.
I received a free copy from BookSprout in exchange for an honest review.
Cursed Tides is a refreshing, unique read. It has the remnants of Little Mermaid with several twists and turns. This book had me engrossed from the beginning. I did not scan or skim any part of the story. Reality seemed to melt away as I was pulled deeper into the Cursed Tides. The writing fits the story and was easy to read. The world building is captivating. This book gives just enough of everything. I did not want to put it down.
Characters: Varun, a marine biologist and descendant of the prince, is in search of whatever is causing dead spots in the ocean. I liked his character, both inquisitive and reflective. Ashe, the captain of Veritas and Daughter of the Air, was charged with keeping Varun safe during their journey. A task that should have been simple enough, had he obeyed her orders. All the other characters were great supports to the story, even the sketchy ones. The author made it easy to connect with some of the characters while creating curiosity for others.
Adult scenes/sexual stuff: There are none. Varun does have a girlfriend and his mom makes a comment about him not being intimate with her, even on the ship. I would not say it was a romance novel. Maybe budding? The "kissing" was actually transferring air so a character could breathe underwater. There were moments of nakedness that were respected by the other characters who quickly averted eyes, or found cover.
Language: There was minimal adult language, usually by Ashe through her parrot. Varun may have said a few words. I did not feel as though I was being cussed at. I also don't recall any blasphemy (using God's name flippantly) which is rare but so very appreciated.
Ending: There is definitely another book, but I don't feel like I'm dangling from a cliff. I definitely want to know what's really happening with the villains, there are many. I look forward to all the books that follow. This book is worth buying. I hope the next book is released soon!
What a totally engrossing book, a fantastic tale about Ashe, a mermaid princess who decides to leave her people and her land below the waves to acquire a soul for her son to gain him immortality! She gives up her tail in exchange for legs and gives up her voice, the sole means of communication amongst the mer folk. She spends almost three hundred years away from her home beneath the waves and her son thinks she had abandoned him for the love of a human man, he is full of rage and despair and he takes this out by bringing ruin to the ocean and all that live within. Then Ashe meets Varun, she is the captain of the Veritas, the ship hired to take Varun to the ocean to carry out his research as a marine biologist and he discovers so much more than he had bargained for. A wonderful tale, about the Baltiamatu, elemental magic, an air sylph, sirens, nereids and the Oceans’ Court which was so technologically advanced and sophisticated it left Varun speechless to see. But the Baltiamatu where not the mer folk humans knew through their fairy tales, these were the Lords of the Ocean and the Abyss and they were using dark magic to carry out their evil intentions. A story of love of a mother for her son beyond all other love which had the wrong repercussions and which then turned into love and respect for a human above and beyond that for the evil her son had become!! What an amazing book, I would love to read the next book in this series as I am totally in love with the characters and love the spunk of the parrot Jinn who is the voice of his mistress Ashe. A tale about the mer folk unlike any other I have come across so far!!
I don't normally read fantasy so I don't feel really qualified in that genre to rate it. But, I do read a lot of books and have read all of the author's Double Helix science fiction series.
Initially, when I started Cursed Tides, I wondered, "Have I read this before?" I haven't read or even watched the movie, but I had a daughter and enough of it sunk into my subconscious that I realized the connection to The Little Mermaid story. By that time, I was absorbed by the characters and the story. Ashe, a somewhat cranky ship's captain, is a richer and more complex character than Ariel. To earn her soul she must complete her mission of protecting Varun, a marine biologist who does not want to be protected. He has his own mission - to find what is poisoning the oceans and restore it to health. Ashe can't keep her secret and complete her task and Varun becomes even more entrenched in his commitment to his responsibility to save the oceans. His cynicism is slow to dissipate despite the evidence of his eyes.
While the overall story of the Little Mermaid is entwined into the plot in its most basic form, this story has its own mysteries and magic. It is an exciting adventure that incorporates secrets, mythology, conflict, and suspense. Kerrion writes characters that are multifaceted and her world-building is multi-layered without slowing the pace of her story.
I received an ARC copy of this book.
My reason for not giving 5 stars is that the characters aside from Ashe, Varun, and Jinn felt flat. The more minor ones like Ondine, the girlfriend; Jackson, the 1st mate; and various mer-people, felt underdeveloped.
Cursed Tides was an excellent start to a new series. This was my first time reading a Jade Kerrion book and I would definitely read more from her. I'm excited to see where the rest of this series goes.
This is the first book in the Daughter of Air series and overall, it was a great start. I loved the twist of taking the Little Mermaid we all know from the animated movie and playing off of that with an older, more jaded "Ariel." It was a lot of fun to see how the author would twist that story to make it fun and entertaining for adults. Some of the book is a little slow as the story unfolds and we find out how this book differs from the animated film, but overall, the story is engaging and doesn't drag on longer than it should. Cursed Tides really does a great job of setting up the future story and players, while still wrapping up the primary plot lines in this book.
I really enjoyed this modern re-imagining of the animated classic I grew up watching. It was a lot of fun to get into this updated world with new characters and a new mystery to unravel. I'm looking forward to checking out the rest of the serious. I'd definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys mythology/fairy tale stories and doesn't mind some gentle massaging of classic stories into something new.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I am a very strange person because I have several people who are truly beloved even though I’ve never met them. It’s the love of a junkie for her drug pusher only in this case it’s the addiction is for great fiction with the pushers being the authors who create it. Jade Kerrion is a prime example of that. As such I thanked heaven when this particular “pusher” appeased my addiction by coming out with new “product”, namely (hallelujah) a whole new series, Cursed Tides, the first book of which is Daughter of Air. And what a book! Ashe is an amazing character and her story is indeed the promised crazy blend of “urban fantasy, science fiction, fairy tales, and mythology”. It’s also an extraordinary fun (and, as expected, well written) ride indeed full of fantastic characters from Varun Zale (I adore him) to a mer-king (definitely not adored) to titans and a unique take on mer-folk. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises - the book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
I am a very strange person because I have several people who are truly beloved even though I’ve never met them. It’s the love of a junkie for her drug pusher only in this case it’s the addiction is for great fiction with the pushers being the authors who create it. Jade Kerrion is a prime example of that. As such I thanked heaven when this particular “pusher” appeased my addiction by coming out with new “product”, namely (hallelujah) a whole new series, Cursed Tides, the first book of which is Daughter of Air. And what a book! Ashe is an amazing character and her story is indeed the promised crazy blend of “urban fantasy, science fiction, fairy tales, and mythology”. It’s also an extraordinary fun (and, as expected, well written) ride indeed full of fantastic characters from Varun Zale (I adore him) to a mer-king (definitely not adored) to titans and a unique take on mer-folk. But for the fact that I’m literally dictating this review my husband from my hospital bed I could go on and on with praises - the book definitely deserves it. Since I can’t do that I will simply note that the book is most definitely one to read, it is easy to highly recommend. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.
Mer-people, mermaids have always been a fantasy & genre that not many authors have indulged in. Out of all the paranormal creatures I know off, mermaids are the ones that I've read the least about and that's because they're not used much as main characters of a story.
Thank you Jade Kerrion for writing about Ashe, a mermaid out of the Ocean to fulfill a quest, the quest to find a soul. You see flashes of The Little Mermaid and the book is so gripping that the concept of reality blurs. I read this book in straight 2 hours and without skimming through any portion of the book.
Thank you Jade, for not making this into a romance. There were some elements of a budding romance but that's about it. Another good thing was that adult language was used very scarcely used.
The ending of the book indicates a sequel. Fingers crossed that we're going to get one.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An interesting concept. An oceanographer has chartered a ship to check out dead zones in the ocean and to try to find out how they are happening. The captain of the boat mute and uses a parrot that seemingly understands her gestures and translates what she is saying. Things get interesting when the author reveals who the oceanographer and the captain are and the tie they have with each other that reaches back 300 years or so.
The author has set up a world that is interesting. The characters are introduced so you are intrigued by them and get Moreno interesting as more about them and their history is revealed. The character and world development are well done. The complexity of the main characters is revealed a bit at a time on an as needed basis rather than dumped on you all at once. A very good read that I highly recommend. Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Such a great book. The story and the characters were well designed with many twists and turns. Asherah is the little mermaid, but nothing like the Hans Christian Anderson or Disney versions. Throughout the story bits of her past are revealed during her final mission to earn her soul. Her mission revolves Varun a marine biologist descended from the prince she chose not to sacrifice. Her and Varun go through many challenges to learn the truth about what is happening in the ocean. I can't wait to read the nest book. The cliff hangar has me so excited to know more. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I appreciate the author's grasp of the real conflict of the Little Mermaid, the quest for a soul. The characters were compelling and interesting. The two stars off are for the dialogue and the villain, both of which I found stilted and shallow. Also, shouldn't Varun naturally speak Greek, instead of saying he primarily speaks English and shouldn't they be using the metric system, not the imperial system? Last thing, as much as the Near Eastern historian in me loves the use of ancient languages, the language of the mer-folk is Akkadian (Babylonian, to be specific), not Sumerian.
Talk about a fantasy that will lift the crud away if you dive in. This is also the beginning to a series so that is a plus. Ashe is the center of this story with her character being intriguing because I do not come across such so much in my readings. There is also Varun whom is in the center of this too. He has puzzle pieces that he ponders on but can a fairy tale happen? I do believe they have a basis so this tale caught me up also. As it unravels and entwines the reader you will have the crud washed away with the magic of this one giving you pleasure. Three is also danger in this with that adding in thrills. I do think I need not to miss the next one in this.
Cursed Tide is the first book of Daughter of Air series. Jade Kerrion has created a story line combining a fairy tale retelling, urban fantasy and mythology that is well-written, has great world building, and phenomenal characters. Ashe has been sent on an assignment which is to protect Varun. This tale is a page-turner you won't want to put down. It is unique, captivating, and has action, twists, and turns. It is so good that it has made my "To Be Read Over 'N Over" list. It is extremely easy for me to recommend this book. Received a copy and this is my voluntary and honest review.
This action-packed story kept me hooked from beginning to the very last page, leaving me dying to read the next book! With a new twist on the Little Mermaid story, Atlantis and Krakatoa disasters, and on mermaids generally, the author's imagination certainly worked overtime here! I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to all lovers of mermaid, shifter and paranormal stories, but I have to say, I won't be going out for a swim in the sea anytime soon!! NB I received a complimentary copy of this book, but I always give an HONEST review based wholly on my own opinions
I loved reading about Ashe and Varun and their mission to save the ocean. So much happens in this book and you find out about so many things that are from the past. There was just so much that happened in the past and so much going on in the present and all of the worries for the future that it can be a lot to absorb. I highly enjoyed reading the beginning to this series and I can't wait to read more and find out if/how they save everything and I also wonder what is going on will all the diseased.
Fabulous re-invention of The Little Mermaid and the first book of a new series. The storyline is well-crafted with wonderful paranormal characters and creatures, with a mother's love, her curse of a punishment and a second chance at happiness with a human. The h sacrifices for her son, who later proves to be unworthy of her sacrifice. Both the H and h are defined and engaging. This book has a multitude of genres within and it works. It is entertaining, interesting and I liked it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
An interesting and imaginative fantasy with some strong ties to the Little Mermaid fairytale. The oceans are dying and Varun has set out on this ocean voyage to find out why. Ashe is the ship's captain tasked with keeping the marine biologist safe. A not so easy task as he is a stubborn fellow, indeed. Then there is Ashe's link to the oceans and what is happening. Not a romance if that is what you are looking for, but it is well-written with an engrossing storyline. A very good read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
New to this author and I was not disappointed. This is not your Little Mermaid. A story of loss and longing leading to hate, belief in the unseen which leads a mother away from her family and drastic change in her life. There is courage and strength and learning not all stories are fairy tales. As you can tell, I don't do spoilers, but I do try to convey my feelings and interpretation of the story. An awesome read; I'm wondering what the author has in store for the main characters in her next book in the series
I received an ARC of this book and I absolutely loved it! I am a slow reader and I finished it in one day, it was that good. I love fairy tale retellings and urban fantasy and this book delivered on both of these. Excellent characters, excellent world build especially hard to do with a first book in a series. The book ended with a nice conclusion and good continuation for the next book. I'm really looking forward to book two!
This is my 1st read and review for this author and I absolutely loved this story, this story reminded me of the Little Mermaid but way so much better. Fantastic world building you could actually see and believe the characters and the places that this author writes about, I can’t wait to get my hands on book 2 Cursed Blade. A fantastic story a 5 plus ⭐️ read and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.
I just couldn’t get into it, I read 50% and still nothing super grabbing happened. If you like slow paced with no real development besides an angsty ship captain who has a parrot with an extensive vocabulary that NO ONE questions. And a brooding scientist who bring a whiny girlfriend on an expedition and takes forever to connect the dots then read away, but is not for me!
A fantastic read. The Author has done a fantastic job at the World building and bringing out the characters. As well as epic scenes that grabs you from the first page to the last. The scenes are written so well that I can picture them in my minds eye. This is a real page turner with twists and turns that keeps you enthralled with this read. I definitely recommend this captivating read. Its a must read. Shauna Joesten
I loved the twist Jade Kerrion through into this story. Characters were well rounded and descriptive so when I close my eyes I could see them. I love the unique names Kerrion uses in the book. Anyone who loves fairy tales, or mermaids will love this. Ashe and Varun make a great partnership as they try and figure out what’s going on and I can’t wait to see what Kerrion has in store for the rest of the series.