What do you think?
Rate this book
These Wicked Waters
A centuries-old curse plagues the island of Viaii Nisi and an ancient enemy lurks beneath the depths of the surrounding water.
Annie Mayfield has heard all the stories and rumors about the island that is now home to the brand new Mayfield Villa resort, and she is definitely not psyched about having to spend her summer working there. The island’s name alone—Viaii Nisi, or violent island—is enough to make any sane person seriously reconsider it as a vacation destination. Then there are the mysterious deaths of every previous owner! It’s a history Annie’s mother is quick to shrug off, but when a guest goes missing on opening night, Annie really starts to get the creeps.
And then Annie makes a truly terrifying discovery: ruins filled with bones and one skeleton that seems to be half human and half fish. Intrigued by the strange remains and determined to help find the missing guest, Annie channels her inner Nancy Drew—minus the skirt and pearls, of course—in an attempt to uncover the truth about Viaii Nisi. But that truth is beyond anything she could ever have imagined. With her mother in complete denial and local officials unconcerned, Annie finds she’ll have to face her biggest fears if she’s to attempt to save everyone she loves.
Annie Mayfield has heard all the stories and rumors about the island that is now home to the brand new Mayfield Villa resort, and she is definitely not psyched about having to spend her summer working there. The island’s name alone—Viaii Nisi, or violent island—is enough to make any sane person seriously reconsider it as a vacation destination. Then there are the mysterious deaths of every previous owner! It’s a history Annie’s mother is quick to shrug off, but when a guest goes missing on opening night, Annie really starts to get the creeps.
And then Annie makes a truly terrifying discovery: ruins filled with bones and one skeleton that seems to be half human and half fish. Intrigued by the strange remains and determined to help find the missing guest, Annie channels her inner Nancy Drew—minus the skirt and pearls, of course—in an attempt to uncover the truth about Viaii Nisi. But that truth is beyond anything she could ever have imagined. With her mother in complete denial and local officials unconcerned, Annie finds she’ll have to face her biggest fears if she’s to attempt to save everyone she loves.
275 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 22, 2019
1 person is currently reading
496 people want to read
About the author
Emily Layne
3 books49 followersEmily Layne is the author of the YA Paranormal Fantasy THESE WICKED WATERS as well as the new YA Science Fiction series The Lost Colony Trilogy, beginning with OF STARLIGHT & BONE, all with Owl Hollow Press.
Emily grew up a proud Army brat with an Anne Shirley-esque imagination. She loves reading, eating too much pizza, and spending time with her husband—who loves books almost as much as she does.
When not writing fantastical stories, Emily can be found playing with her curious children, exploring the great outdoors, or concocting mostly-believable excuses to avoid socializing.
Emily grew up a proud Army brat with an Anne Shirley-esque imagination. She loves reading, eating too much pizza, and spending time with her husband—who loves books almost as much as she does.
When not writing fantastical stories, Emily can be found playing with her curious children, exploring the great outdoors, or concocting mostly-believable excuses to avoid socializing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
February 28, 2020
I received this complimentary ARC from the publisher, courtesy of NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
This story was a tad slow, which is to be expected in terms of a mystery, but I think the pacing could have been better. The beginning had serious pacing issues, but this book found its footing later on.
The romance was a tad unnecessary. Not every book needs romance, and I think they were better-suited as friends.
As the book went on, it seriously improved, full with brutal sirens and bloody events. The sirens were the highlight of the book. They were so vicious and vengeful!
I'd recommend this to fans of To Kill a Kingdom.
This story was a tad slow, which is to be expected in terms of a mystery, but I think the pacing could have been better. The beginning had serious pacing issues, but this book found its footing later on.
The romance was a tad unnecessary. Not every book needs romance, and I think they were better-suited as friends.
As the book went on, it seriously improved, full with brutal sirens and bloody events. The sirens were the highlight of the book. They were so vicious and vengeful!
I'd recommend this to fans of To Kill a Kingdom.
January 2, 2020
Soooooo apparently The Little Mermaid and Jurassic Park had a book baby?
This was a fun, exciting, weird and easy read.
I really enjoyed it; I just wish there was more.
The ending felt rushed and the characters needed to be fleshed out more than they were.
This was more of a 3.5 star rating but that doesn't exist.
Thank you NetGalley and Owl Hollow Press for my ARC.
This was a fun, exciting, weird and easy read.
I really enjoyed it; I just wish there was more.
The ending felt rushed and the characters needed to be fleshed out more than they were.
This was more of a 3.5 star rating but that doesn't exist.
Thank you NetGalley and Owl Hollow Press for my ARC.
August 15, 2019
I definitely did not expect to like this book as much as I did.
An enjoyable mix of fantasy, romance and investigative mystery that follows 17-year old Annie on her mission to discover the truth behind the disappearances of a guest and a colleague from the holiday resort she's working at for the summer.
I've always been a sucker for anything mermaids and sirens, and giving the lore a little gory twist was almost certain to make me fall in love with it. Add in a mature and smart young heroine, a low-key, slow-burn romance and some gripping mystery, and I was a very happy reader.
I did not, however, like the little twist at the end whose sole purpose seems to have been to set up the next book.
All in all, though, this was a fantastic debut by Emily Layne, and I can't wait to get my greedy little hands on her future works.
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 13, 2019
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley for an honest review.
Im not normally one for suspense but something about this book caught my eye......okay ill be honest that something was Sirens. It drew me in from the first few pages and held my attention until it shifted points of view. At first this annoyed me but as the book went on I enjoyed that more and more.
This book gives such Nancy Drew vibes and was such a nostalgic read for that reason. Would ten out of ten recommend picking it up.
Im not normally one for suspense but something about this book caught my eye......okay ill be honest that something was Sirens. It drew me in from the first few pages and held my attention until it shifted points of view. At first this annoyed me but as the book went on I enjoyed that more and more.
This book gives such Nancy Drew vibes and was such a nostalgic read for that reason. Would ten out of ten recommend picking it up.
September 15, 2019
I would have adored this one as a teenager, in fact, when I was a teenager, there were too few books in this genre! Still, as a slightly older reader (ahem) I enjoyed These Wicked Waters too. Main character Annie is on her school holidays and on her way to Viaii Nisi, the island where her mother has just opened a brand new resort. Although Annie actually wanted to go rock climbing in Greece, being on the island and having to help out in the hotel is not that bad, she strikes up a friendship with one of the maids, and one of the lifeguards is most definitely very interesting. But then one of the guests disappears, and so does her friend. Soon her Spidey senses are even more a-tingling: she’s found bones and a weird skeleton and she’s spotted something in the water that surely must be a giant fish but looks a helluvalot like… a mermaid?! Annie is a great character, feisty and independent.
Alternating with Annie’s point of view, there’s the story of Lorelei, a siren who has fallen from grace.
These Wicked Waters is part mystery, part imaginative take on the siren lore, highly entertaining and a quick read. It lost me a bit in the final part of the book, because something happened that I felt was rather unbelievable and over the top, but still it kept me interested and led me to a satisfying finale.
These Wicked Waters is out on 22 October!
Many thanks to Owl Hollow Press and NetGalley for the free eARC! All opinions are my own!
Alternating with Annie’s point of view, there’s the story of Lorelei, a siren who has fallen from grace.
These Wicked Waters is part mystery, part imaginative take on the siren lore, highly entertaining and a quick read. It lost me a bit in the final part of the book, because something happened that I felt was rather unbelievable and over the top, but still it kept me interested and led me to a satisfying finale.
These Wicked Waters is out on 22 October!
Many thanks to Owl Hollow Press and NetGalley for the free eARC! All opinions are my own!
October 21, 2019
A solid 3 stars read!
The main reason I gave this book 3 stars was the pacing. Honestly, I feel like the first half of the book could have been either shorter or filled with more information about Annie's past or the sirens.. Instead, it was slow with very vague hints about Annie's past and family, about which we actually learnt in the lest 20%. I also didn't like the romance, mainly because I think it could have been better as a friendship!
In the second part, everything got better. We got more info about the sirens, more action and even some tragic events... I think that the best aspect of this book was the sirens. Brutal, vicious, bloody and vengeful, the way there were in most myths and not the Disney way. I have to say, I would like to see more of the sirens.
Finally, the end had a twist, which I could smell before I even started the book. and it was a shame that we met Annie;'s sister so late in the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc provided, in exchange for my honest review.
ps: I am from Greece and I have to say that I just can't read or listen greek from almost anyone. It took me a while to understand the name of the island (Viaii Nisi= Βίαιο Νησί) the way it was written. It's not anyone's fault, we just have a very difficult language.. It's the same way I can't speak french, because I hear myself and I know I am just not that good...
The main reason I gave this book 3 stars was the pacing. Honestly, I feel like the first half of the book could have been either shorter or filled with more information about Annie's past or the sirens.. Instead, it was slow with very vague hints about Annie's past and family, about which we actually learnt in the lest 20%. I also didn't like the romance, mainly because I think it could have been better as a friendship!
In the second part, everything got better. We got more info about the sirens, more action and even some tragic events... I think that the best aspect of this book was the sirens. Brutal, vicious, bloody and vengeful, the way there were in most myths and not the Disney way. I have to say, I would like to see more of the sirens.
Finally, the end had a twist, which I could smell before I even started the book. and it was a shame that we met Annie;'s sister so late in the story.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc provided, in exchange for my honest review.
ps: I am from Greece and I have to say that I just can't read or listen greek from almost anyone. It took me a while to understand the name of the island (Viaii Nisi= Βίαιο Νησί) the way it was written. It's not anyone's fault, we just have a very difficult language.. It's the same way I can't speak french, because I hear myself and I know I am just not that good...
September 10, 2019
I honestly don't even know where to begin as I am still enthralled by the beautiful storyline. The originality of this story is superb and the worldbuilding and characters are simply outstanding. This isn't a romance book full of beautiful and exotic mermaids; this showcases the raw, animal instincts of sirens and I was completely blown straight out of the water. This is a must read for everyone and I hope the author gives us more Rybka!!
{I requested a copy via NetGalley and made no guarantee of a favorable review. The opinions contained herein are unbiased and my own. }
{I requested a copy via NetGalley and made no guarantee of a favorable review. The opinions contained herein are unbiased and my own. }
October 21, 2019
I found the hard to get into and it took about a third of the book before it founds it’s pace and it seemed to flow at all, unfortunately by this point I lose interest and it doesn’t help I couldn’t relate to the characters at all. Unfortunately not for me which is a shame as so many others loved it and I was hoping to too
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
August 24, 2019
I was excited to read this book. I’ve read almost every title released by Owl Hollow Press and have never been disappointed. These Wicked Waters was no exception. This is a story that centers around the important of family and in particular the bond between sisters. The main character is Annie and I loved her. She was strong, determined, and as an adult reading her story she reminded me what it was like to be a teenager and to have unwavering belief. We sometimes lose that as we age and indulging in teen reads is a great way to remind yourself of the magic of youth.
Annie’s journey begins with her stepping off the boat onto the Island her mother has purchased. She is to spend her summer here as punishment instead of going rock climbing. She’s a typical teen and we’re immediately drawn into the mystery that surrounds the island. We also witness the strained relationship between Annie and her mother.
I loved the changing chapters where we are introduced to Loralie, the siren, and witnessing her story and again the bond she had with her siren sisters is so well done. These chapters built up the story before it merged with the every day and the horror that ensued.
The writing in this book is excellent. The characters are superbly written. I loved Benson, Victor, and all the supporting cast.
This whirlwind adventure has it all and although I think it is aimed at younger teen readers, I have to say as a 40+ woman, I enjoyed every moment of it. Annie proved herself time and time again and her belief never wained. Although she tried to warn her mother and other adults of the danger they faced, no one listened and it was up to Annie to try and save the day.
There’s so much to this story and it’s hard to review without giving away spoilers, but I will say the family dynamics are beautifully mastered as are the teen emotions and dilemmas. I loved reading about the sirens and I thought the ending was just perfect.
The settings and descriptions were stunning and I know some of the sentences and phrases used will stay with me.
If you are looking for a teen read that will pull you in and drown you in the depths of emotion and action, I highly recommend These Wicked Waters by Emily Layne.
A big thank you to Owl Hollow Press for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this book.
Annie’s journey begins with her stepping off the boat onto the Island her mother has purchased. She is to spend her summer here as punishment instead of going rock climbing. She’s a typical teen and we’re immediately drawn into the mystery that surrounds the island. We also witness the strained relationship between Annie and her mother.
I loved the changing chapters where we are introduced to Loralie, the siren, and witnessing her story and again the bond she had with her siren sisters is so well done. These chapters built up the story before it merged with the every day and the horror that ensued.
The writing in this book is excellent. The characters are superbly written. I loved Benson, Victor, and all the supporting cast.
This whirlwind adventure has it all and although I think it is aimed at younger teen readers, I have to say as a 40+ woman, I enjoyed every moment of it. Annie proved herself time and time again and her belief never wained. Although she tried to warn her mother and other adults of the danger they faced, no one listened and it was up to Annie to try and save the day.
There’s so much to this story and it’s hard to review without giving away spoilers, but I will say the family dynamics are beautifully mastered as are the teen emotions and dilemmas. I loved reading about the sirens and I thought the ending was just perfect.
The settings and descriptions were stunning and I know some of the sentences and phrases used will stay with me.
If you are looking for a teen read that will pull you in and drown you in the depths of emotion and action, I highly recommend These Wicked Waters by Emily Layne.
A big thank you to Owl Hollow Press for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this book.
August 5, 2019
A really great read that reminded me a little of Mira Grant’s “Into the Drowning Deep” up until that second to last chapter.
“These Wicked Waters” finds Annie working at a resort on an island that’s got a a bit of a history and with tourists going missing and something lurking beneath the waves, Annie finds herself hunting for answers even if it means confronting a creature believed to exist in only myths.
This does a good job of working through the slow burn of the mystery behind the disappearances and strange deaths that begin to plague the island while giving us a bit of a history to the creatures themselves before tying both stories together with a fast paced and bloody climax. There’s also a bit of a parallel between both young women as they work to right the wrongs of the past and hope to avoid a similar fate in the future.
There’s some romance here which I’m not sure was really necessary but it didn’t impact the story and the main arc too much so I guess I shouldn’t complain.
The sirens in this are bloody and vengeful reminding us more of movie monsters than a Disney Princess which I can always appreciate but those few paragraphs in the second to last chapter snapped me out of it so fast it was almost laughable even with Annie’s commentary validating the ridiculousness of the scene, I can handle the reveal but not the messenger.
This is a fun read that will make you long for summer as you wait for its October release and it’s left a bit open and I hope that means we’ll be revisiting the sea sooner rather than later.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
“These Wicked Waters” finds Annie working at a resort on an island that’s got a a bit of a history and with tourists going missing and something lurking beneath the waves, Annie finds herself hunting for answers even if it means confronting a creature believed to exist in only myths.
This does a good job of working through the slow burn of the mystery behind the disappearances and strange deaths that begin to plague the island while giving us a bit of a history to the creatures themselves before tying both stories together with a fast paced and bloody climax. There’s also a bit of a parallel between both young women as they work to right the wrongs of the past and hope to avoid a similar fate in the future.
There’s some romance here which I’m not sure was really necessary but it didn’t impact the story and the main arc too much so I guess I shouldn’t complain.
The sirens in this are bloody and vengeful reminding us more of movie monsters than a Disney Princess which I can always appreciate but those few paragraphs in the second to last chapter snapped me out of it so fast it was almost laughable even with Annie’s commentary validating the ridiculousness of the scene, I can handle the reveal but not the messenger.
This is a fun read that will make you long for summer as you wait for its October release and it’s left a bit open and I hope that means we’ll be revisiting the sea sooner rather than later.
**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**
August 26, 2019
Rating: 3.0/5
Review: Thinking mystery? Think not. Think hormone addled dimwit flouncing around checking out hot boyz. Think Tinder….under the sea or some shjt. Do teens really read this? I thought they couldn’t dig their collective noses out of their phones long enough procreate. Anyhoo, this author needs some polishing in the ol’ story line and character development departments. If you build flouncy hormone addled douche bags that fail to grow with the movement, then thin characters you maketh.
Fairly exhaustive reading due to the lengthy forays into dialogue and prolonged scenes. It just took to long for the story line to culminate. All the scene “backing -and- forthing” was tedious where the novel could have been compacted while delivering more emotional punch. The sirens were inventive in construct and believable in delivery. The fight scenes are a jumbled mess and really make no spacial sense if you follow along with discernment.
The author gets points for being hotter than a two dollar pistol (misogyny works both ways baby!) and does have a lot of talent waiting to flourish. 1.5 stars for the work, 1 star for the hotness.
Review: Thinking mystery? Think not. Think hormone addled dimwit flouncing around checking out hot boyz. Think Tinder….under the sea or some shjt. Do teens really read this? I thought they couldn’t dig their collective noses out of their phones long enough procreate. Anyhoo, this author needs some polishing in the ol’ story line and character development departments. If you build flouncy hormone addled douche bags that fail to grow with the movement, then thin characters you maketh.
Fairly exhaustive reading due to the lengthy forays into dialogue and prolonged scenes. It just took to long for the story line to culminate. All the scene “backing -and- forthing” was tedious where the novel could have been compacted while delivering more emotional punch. The sirens were inventive in construct and believable in delivery. The fight scenes are a jumbled mess and really make no spacial sense if you follow along with discernment.
The author gets points for being hotter than a two dollar pistol (misogyny works both ways baby!) and does have a lot of talent waiting to flourish. 1.5 stars for the work, 1 star for the hotness.
August 17, 2019
These Wicked Water definitely surprised and in the best way!
The writing was very good. It was very light and easy read (I ended up reading it all in one seating), and definitely very fun and intriguing.
I liked the mysteries and I was hooked from the beginning, especially when it comes to the family drama. I’m very fond of those, which means that I have high expectations about them... This one didn’t particularly meet my standards and I felt the resolution of it was rushed, but it did work to keep me reading until I was interested in other aspects of the book.
Which leads me to... sirens! I really loved the use of the creatures here and the parallel story we get concerning them. The world building of the creatures was pretty good and I like the little twist we have with them (at least the timeline thing was a twist to me).
Speaking of twists, though, the one by the end felt quite unnecessary and I felt like its only purpose was to open the door to a sequel and didn’t really feel earned within the narrative.
As for the characters, Annie annoyed me sometimes because I felt like she was the stereotypical rich girl who couldn’t understand that the people around her had bigger life issues than “my mom didn’t let me go to Greece alone”. But overall she was okay and her relationship with Victor was sweet. My favorite thing was her relationship with her mother by far.
Overall, I had lots of fun with this books and its mythology and it was a great distraction for a couple of hours.
The writing was very good. It was very light and easy read (I ended up reading it all in one seating), and definitely very fun and intriguing.
I liked the mysteries and I was hooked from the beginning, especially when it comes to the family drama. I’m very fond of those, which means that I have high expectations about them... This one didn’t particularly meet my standards and I felt the resolution of it was rushed, but it did work to keep me reading until I was interested in other aspects of the book.
Which leads me to... sirens! I really loved the use of the creatures here and the parallel story we get concerning them. The world building of the creatures was pretty good and I like the little twist we have with them (at least the timeline thing was a twist to me).
Speaking of twists, though, the one by the end felt quite unnecessary and I felt like its only purpose was to open the door to a sequel and didn’t really feel earned within the narrative.
As for the characters, Annie annoyed me sometimes because I felt like she was the stereotypical rich girl who couldn’t understand that the people around her had bigger life issues than “my mom didn’t let me go to Greece alone”. But overall she was okay and her relationship with Victor was sweet. My favorite thing was her relationship with her mother by far.
Overall, I had lots of fun with this books and its mythology and it was a great distraction for a couple of hours.
October 18, 2019
A special thank you to NetGalley and Owl Hollow Press for the ARC of this title, which did not effect my review.
These Wicked Waters by Emily Layne follows Annie Mayfield as she arrives at Viaii Nisi for the summer to work in her mother's island vacation resort. There due to being punished for climbing to the top of her boarding school's building and putting a tutu on a statue on the roof, Annie views her time spent on the Greek territory and island as a punishment - she would much rather be in Greece rock-climbing for the summer. After sneaking off to climb the island's cliffs, Annie discovers the bones of what she believes to be a siren. Her discovery, coupled with the mysterious disappearances of island guests and employees will make proving the presence of the murderous mermaids her top priority.
I said it in a previous progress update, and I'll mention it again here - this title felt very much like a spin on Jurassic Park, perhaps with The Little Mermaid thrown in. This isn't a bad thing - in fact overall, I very much enjoyed the book. I won't claim that it's a work of critical acclaim, the writing feels awkward in places with the use of cliches:
The book also felt oddly paced - the action felt slow to arrive, and when it did arrive it felt rushed. Character development felt missing as well - the significance of Annie's sister Lynn still didn't feel convincing 60% of the way through, feeling as if it were only a weak thread for Annie's character development, rather than a significant presence and plot line as it came to be during the climax of the story.
For all of it's flaws, though, this title was still action-packed and plenty nasty - a perfect book for October.
These Wicked Waters by Emily Layne follows Annie Mayfield as she arrives at Viaii Nisi for the summer to work in her mother's island vacation resort. There due to being punished for climbing to the top of her boarding school's building and putting a tutu on a statue on the roof, Annie views her time spent on the Greek territory and island as a punishment - she would much rather be in Greece rock-climbing for the summer. After sneaking off to climb the island's cliffs, Annie discovers the bones of what she believes to be a siren. Her discovery, coupled with the mysterious disappearances of island guests and employees will make proving the presence of the murderous mermaids her top priority.
I said it in a previous progress update, and I'll mention it again here - this title felt very much like a spin on Jurassic Park, perhaps with The Little Mermaid thrown in. This isn't a bad thing - in fact overall, I very much enjoyed the book. I won't claim that it's a work of critical acclaim, the writing feels awkward in places with the use of cliches:
"Hello, mouth. Meet foot. I wanted to melt into the floor."
The book also felt oddly paced - the action felt slow to arrive, and when it did arrive it felt rushed. Character development felt missing as well - the significance of Annie's sister Lynn still didn't feel convincing 60% of the way through, feeling as if it were only a weak thread for Annie's character development, rather than a significant presence and plot line as it came to be during the climax of the story.
For all of it's flaws, though, this title was still action-packed and plenty nasty - a perfect book for October.
"Stupid creatures, lung-breathers were. How they survived century after century remained a mystery. Lorelei could rip out his heart and feast on his flesh, and he would be unaware until she struck."
November 9, 2019
I had trouble getting in to this book, the main character seemed a bit flat and not much information was given at the start so I had to figure it out for myself. But once lorelei and Annie met its started to get more interesting and I was able to finish the book. I did enjoy the end but it al felt flat and done before. They story could be great with more details and descriptions.
September 19, 2019
ARC Review: Received for free via Netgalley for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Rating: 2.35🌟
CW: ableist slurs, child neglect (kind of), death, murder, blood
Lmao its a no from me.
Okay, that's unfair. It's not a no from me but its a close thing. I liked the overall tale even if it was kind of bland, but it wasn't awful actually. Its for a certain target group and I think they'd enjoy it (like young teens, 13-ish and maybe to like 17,maybe) but it wasn't really for me.
I would've probably enjoyed this more if [redacted] hadn't died. Like that's just what threw me all the way off and I actually wanted to DNF this because lmao, WTF no. But I kept reading only to find out that [redacted] had also been killed but in a far more gruesome way. So. So.
(I skipped to the end because I didn't want to DNF but I didn't want to read anymore. I was 84% in so never let it be said I didn't try!)
Rating: 2.35🌟
CW: ableist slurs, child neglect (kind of), death, murder, blood
Lmao its a no from me.
Okay, that's unfair. It's not a no from me but its a close thing. I liked the overall tale even if it was kind of bland, but it wasn't awful actually. Its for a certain target group and I think they'd enjoy it (like young teens, 13-ish and maybe to like 17,maybe) but it wasn't really for me.
I would've probably enjoyed this more if [redacted] hadn't died. Like that's just what threw me all the way off and I actually wanted to DNF this because lmao, WTF no. But I kept reading only to find out that [redacted] had also been killed but in a far more gruesome way. So. So.
(I skipped to the end because I didn't want to DNF but I didn't want to read anymore. I was 84% in so never let it be said I didn't try!)
December 10, 2019
You can check out this review and my other reviews at Writing the Universe
Title: These Wicked Waters
Author: Emily Layne
Pub. Date: October 22, 2019
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I mainly requested this book with the hopes that it would be a quick read, and it was. Based on the synopsis I figured I’d enjoy it – which I did. I’m glad I requested and was approved.
It felt like the Jurassic World movies, but with sirens and I thought the concept was cool. I liked the blend of Greek Mythology with a Modern-Day resort, and the Mayfield Villa would be fun to go to…minus the murderous sirens. While I definitely enjoyed this book and I’m glad it hit my radar, I thought the ending was a bit rushed and I’m left wondering if there is going to be another book. It felt very open ended, but I have no idea what the premise of a second book would be.
I thought the relationship between Annie and Victor (the Love Interest) was a little forced. He’s the attractive life guard at the resort, so of course Annie (the owner’s daughter) and he get together. It was convenient and forced if that makes sense? I liked them together and they had good chemistry, it was just very forced and didn’t feel very organic.
It took me probably half the book to realize that the Lorelei parts (she’s a siren) were the past. For the first half of the book I thought they were happening in sync with Annie’s chapters. I kind of wish that had been clearer. The hints were there, but I guess I missed them. It becomes much clearer in the second half of the book that there is a time difference between Annie and Lorelei, until there isn’t.
Overall, this was a fun, enjoyable read with a bit of mystery and action. For the most part, once you start reading, you won’t want to stop until you finish. Annie’s journey is definitely a wild ride, where in the beginning she’d rather be anywhere else, and at the end…well, you’ll have to read the book to find out! Out, October 22, 2019, make sure you pick it up if you want killer sirens, mystery and a resort villa on a remote Greek Island!
Title: These Wicked Waters
Author: Emily Layne
Pub. Date: October 22, 2019
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
I mainly requested this book with the hopes that it would be a quick read, and it was. Based on the synopsis I figured I’d enjoy it – which I did. I’m glad I requested and was approved.
It felt like the Jurassic World movies, but with sirens and I thought the concept was cool. I liked the blend of Greek Mythology with a Modern-Day resort, and the Mayfield Villa would be fun to go to…minus the murderous sirens. While I definitely enjoyed this book and I’m glad it hit my radar, I thought the ending was a bit rushed and I’m left wondering if there is going to be another book. It felt very open ended, but I have no idea what the premise of a second book would be.
I thought the relationship between Annie and Victor (the Love Interest) was a little forced. He’s the attractive life guard at the resort, so of course Annie (the owner’s daughter) and he get together. It was convenient and forced if that makes sense? I liked them together and they had good chemistry, it was just very forced and didn’t feel very organic.
It took me probably half the book to realize that the Lorelei parts (she’s a siren) were the past. For the first half of the book I thought they were happening in sync with Annie’s chapters. I kind of wish that had been clearer. The hints were there, but I guess I missed them. It becomes much clearer in the second half of the book that there is a time difference between Annie and Lorelei, until there isn’t.
Overall, this was a fun, enjoyable read with a bit of mystery and action. For the most part, once you start reading, you won’t want to stop until you finish. Annie’s journey is definitely a wild ride, where in the beginning she’d rather be anywhere else, and at the end…well, you’ll have to read the book to find out! Out, October 22, 2019, make sure you pick it up if you want killer sirens, mystery and a resort villa on a remote Greek Island!
September 13, 2019
**Thank you to Owl Hollow Press, Netgalley, and Emily Layne for providing me an ebook copy in exchange for an honest review**
These Wicked Waters was not the book I was expecting when I picked it up. I initially thought this was going to be high fantasy, in a magical new world - however, it is fantasy within the realms of reality. This is not a negative for me, just came unexpected in the first few pages.
Annie is our MC, and she is sent to spend her summer on a private island her mom owns (right??) after she pulled a prank at her boarding school. The island is Viaii Nisi, or violent island in Greek. Disturbing rumors abound about this island, and all of the previous owners have drowned to death. Annie gets to the island and when workers and guests start disappearing, she investigates what could be behind the rumors and disappearances...
Lorelai is a two-tailed siren, who has been forbidden by the siren Queen Thessalonike from using her song to interfere with the lung-breathers on the island. She disobeys, and the results cost her what she cared about most.
These Wicked Waters narrated back and forth between Annie and Lorelai. Background information is given slowly over the book, which is generally not the style I prefer. I spent the first half of the book pretty confused with what was going on. The story did pick up after awhile and I ended up enjoying it.
One thing I liked about These Wicked Waters is that it left the possibly of a sequel open. There was an ending that mostly wrapped everything up, but dropped one last bomb on you (a predictable bomb, but still a bomb) and could be the basis of a sequel. Currently, These Wicked Waters is a standalone but hopes for the future!
Fans of The Wicked Deep and The Sea Witch will enjoy this new spin on sirens and an ocean themed novel. Check it out!
These Wicked Waters was not the book I was expecting when I picked it up. I initially thought this was going to be high fantasy, in a magical new world - however, it is fantasy within the realms of reality. This is not a negative for me, just came unexpected in the first few pages.
Annie is our MC, and she is sent to spend her summer on a private island her mom owns (right??) after she pulled a prank at her boarding school. The island is Viaii Nisi, or violent island in Greek. Disturbing rumors abound about this island, and all of the previous owners have drowned to death. Annie gets to the island and when workers and guests start disappearing, she investigates what could be behind the rumors and disappearances...
Lorelai is a two-tailed siren, who has been forbidden by the siren Queen Thessalonike from using her song to interfere with the lung-breathers on the island. She disobeys, and the results cost her what she cared about most.
These Wicked Waters narrated back and forth between Annie and Lorelai. Background information is given slowly over the book, which is generally not the style I prefer. I spent the first half of the book pretty confused with what was going on. The story did pick up after awhile and I ended up enjoying it.
One thing I liked about These Wicked Waters is that it left the possibly of a sequel open. There was an ending that mostly wrapped everything up, but dropped one last bomb on you (a predictable bomb, but still a bomb) and could be the basis of a sequel. Currently, These Wicked Waters is a standalone but hopes for the future!
Fans of The Wicked Deep and The Sea Witch will enjoy this new spin on sirens and an ocean themed novel. Check it out!
September 18, 2019
I loved the premise of this book! I've never read a book with sirens before and I was super excited to sink my teeth into this, and while it didn't disappoint, it didn't quite grab me either.
The setting was probably my favourite part. We have Annie, the daughter of an island resort owner, working in this beautiful paradise. I loved the oceanic setting, the mundane odd jobs Annie was roped into doing, and her relationships with the various guests and workers.
I was really into this book, until the point of view changed to Lorelei, a siren (though I did warm up to it near the end of the novel since the shift in perspective was very important.) The siren and Annie meet each other and form an unexplainable bond.
The writing was simple but nice, the characters relatable (if a little boring.) The sirens seemed pretty generic and the way they spoke didn't feel all that authentic to me, and the love interest Victor didn't land for me either.
Despite my inability to really get into this novel, it was still an enjoyable read. It's a simple read with an above par setting and a bit of heart.
I recommend if you're looking for an easy, pleasant read taking place on a cool spot with supernatural creatures, to give this book a shot.
The setting was probably my favourite part. We have Annie, the daughter of an island resort owner, working in this beautiful paradise. I loved the oceanic setting, the mundane odd jobs Annie was roped into doing, and her relationships with the various guests and workers.
I was really into this book, until the point of view changed to Lorelei, a siren (though I did warm up to it near the end of the novel since the shift in perspective was very important.) The siren and Annie meet each other and form an unexplainable bond.
The writing was simple but nice, the characters relatable (if a little boring.) The sirens seemed pretty generic and the way they spoke didn't feel all that authentic to me, and the love interest Victor didn't land for me either.
Despite my inability to really get into this novel, it was still an enjoyable read. It's a simple read with an above par setting and a bit of heart.
I recommend if you're looking for an easy, pleasant read taking place on a cool spot with supernatural creatures, to give this book a shot.
December 13, 2019
I’m not usually a fan of mermaid stories, but was intrigued by the mystery element of this one and I'm glad I read it.
The story follows Annie, who comes to her mother's luxury holiday island to work in the hotel as a punishment for acting out at school. The island has an ominous name and is the centre of rumours of mysterious deaths, so Annie (who hates the water for good reason) isn't best pleased to be there.
There's plenty of action and the book really kept my attention. I also liked Annie, and following her adventures and gradually finding out more about her relationships with her family. Lorelei too, was a great character - even if sirens do eat people, I liked her, her relationship with Echo, and felt for her for the things she'd suffered in the past.
A good read, despite the fact I'm way too old to be classed a YA and I'll be looking for other books by this author.
The story follows Annie, who comes to her mother's luxury holiday island to work in the hotel as a punishment for acting out at school. The island has an ominous name and is the centre of rumours of mysterious deaths, so Annie (who hates the water for good reason) isn't best pleased to be there.
There's plenty of action and the book really kept my attention. I also liked Annie, and following her adventures and gradually finding out more about her relationships with her family. Lorelei too, was a great character - even if sirens do eat people, I liked her, her relationship with Echo, and felt for her for the things she'd suffered in the past.
A good read, despite the fact I'm way too old to be classed a YA and I'll be looking for other books by this author.
January 23, 2020
Annie's mom has purchased an island resort. Annie has to go work there during the grand opening. She is not thrilled. She wanted to go climbing instead. Also, every one of the previous owners are dead. Annie has done a lot of research and doesn't believe the deaths were due to natural causes. Could mermaids be real?
I love mermaid and siren stories. This one was decent, but not great. I love Annie, Lorelei, and Benny. Parts of the ending just fell a little flat.
I received a copy from Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love mermaid and siren stories. This one was decent, but not great. I love Annie, Lorelei, and Benny. Parts of the ending just fell a little flat.
I received a copy from Net Galley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
September 23, 2019
I received this as an arc on netgalley for an honest review and boy. I loved it!
Wow what a story! I read this whole book in one day and can honestly say it’s one of my favorite siren/mermaid retelling. It was dark with twists here and there to keep everything so interesting. I love that the romance wasn’t insta-love but still had that spark. I loved the relationships that improved over the course of the book as well! Hopefully we will get another book or two with Annie!
Wow what a story! I read this whole book in one day and can honestly say it’s one of my favorite siren/mermaid retelling. It was dark with twists here and there to keep everything so interesting. I love that the romance wasn’t insta-love but still had that spark. I loved the relationships that improved over the course of the book as well! Hopefully we will get another book or two with Annie!
September 23, 2019
Mermaids and the ocean love the genre. The best part of the book was not only was it a mystery but supernatural bits thrown in too
A new author to me to add to my list. Thank you for providing this book to me I enjoyed it
A new author to me to add to my list. Thank you for providing this book to me I enjoyed it
December 24, 2019
Cute story. Loved the snippets from Greek mythology.
August 22, 2019
Sinceramente, no esperaba que este libro me gustase tanto. Para quien no me conozca, si hay un libro de sirenas, lo tengo que leer. Junto con los dragones son mis criaturas mitológicas/fantásticas favoritas así que cuando se me presentó la oportunidad de leerlo no lo dudé.
Este libro tiene por protagonista a Annie, una chica de 16 -casi 17- años que tiene que ir a trabajar al resort que acaba de abrir su madre en una isla. ¿El problema? No solo que ella no quiere trabajar allí, sino que hay leyendas que dicen que la isla está maldita, que es peligrosa y si a eso le sumamos que ha desaparecido gente y que los anteriores dueños murieron, pues no inspira mucha confianza. Cómo no, la madre de Annie cree que son tonterías y está encantada con su nuevo negocio. Pero las cosas empiezan a torcerse cuando un cliente desaparece y nadie sabe qué ha pasado.
Tengo que admitir que el libro empieza a ser interesante cuando llevas el 20-25% leído, antes de eso es mas bien introductorio. La trama me ha gustado mucho, me ha parecido original cómo se han tratado ciertos temas de las sirenas y el final, aunque había un par de cosillas que me olía, hay otra que me ha sorprendido. Una de las cosas que más enganchada me ha tenido a la lectura ha sido el descubrir qué había pasado con las desapariciones y con las leyendas que circulaban alrededor de la isla, cómo se habían formado y por qué estaban ocurriendo todas esas cosas. La autora ha jugado conmigo en un par de ocasiones y eso me ha gustado.
Los personajes han estado bien, en su línea para las edades que tiene. Quiero decir, Annie es una chica de 17 años, no esperéis un comportamiento super madura de una chica de 25. Pero lo cierto es que me hubiese gustado saber un poco más cómo era su relación con su hermana y su padre. Son temas que aparecen en el libro pero creo que tendrían que haber tenido más profundidad.
Si os estáis preguntando por el nivel de inglés, es mas bien avanzado, no lo recomiendo como primera lectura ni mucho menos. Si bien es interesante y creo que de este libro puedes aprender mucho vocabulario, si no estás habituado a leer en inglés puede que se te haga cuesta arriba.
Finalmente solo puedo decir que, aunque este libro es autoconclusivo perfectamente podría haber una segunda parte, de hecho me gustaría, ya que como digo la trama ha tenido cierta originalidad y desde luego con ese final se puede tirar del hilo.
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Este libro tiene por protagonista a Annie, una chica de 16 -casi 17- años que tiene que ir a trabajar al resort que acaba de abrir su madre en una isla. ¿El problema? No solo que ella no quiere trabajar allí, sino que hay leyendas que dicen que la isla está maldita, que es peligrosa y si a eso le sumamos que ha desaparecido gente y que los anteriores dueños murieron, pues no inspira mucha confianza. Cómo no, la madre de Annie cree que son tonterías y está encantada con su nuevo negocio. Pero las cosas empiezan a torcerse cuando un cliente desaparece y nadie sabe qué ha pasado.
Tengo que admitir que el libro empieza a ser interesante cuando llevas el 20-25% leído, antes de eso es mas bien introductorio. La trama me ha gustado mucho, me ha parecido original cómo se han tratado ciertos temas de las sirenas y el final, aunque había un par de cosillas que me olía, hay otra que me ha sorprendido. Una de las cosas que más enganchada me ha tenido a la lectura ha sido el descubrir qué había pasado con las desapariciones y con las leyendas que circulaban alrededor de la isla, cómo se habían formado y por qué estaban ocurriendo todas esas cosas. La autora ha jugado conmigo en un par de ocasiones y eso me ha gustado.
Los personajes han estado bien, en su línea para las edades que tiene. Quiero decir, Annie es una chica de 17 años, no esperéis un comportamiento super madura de una chica de 25. Pero lo cierto es que me hubiese gustado saber un poco más cómo era su relación con su hermana y su padre. Son temas que aparecen en el libro pero creo que tendrían que haber tenido más profundidad.
Si os estáis preguntando por el nivel de inglés, es mas bien avanzado, no lo recomiendo como primera lectura ni mucho menos. Si bien es interesante y creo que de este libro puedes aprender mucho vocabulario, si no estás habituado a leer en inglés puede que se te haga cuesta arriba.
Finalmente solo puedo decir que, aunque este libro es autoconclusivo perfectamente podría haber una segunda parte, de hecho me gustaría, ya que como digo la trama ha tenido cierta originalidad y desde luego con ese final se puede tirar del hilo.
*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2019
Emily Layne establishes the atmosphere for this story from page one. These Wicked Waters has polished writing and attention-grabbing fantasy elements that mingle with grounded storytelling. I liked it!
Read
September 10, 2022Before I say the only negative thing I will write, I will first say this: I loved the originality of this story and I thought Emily Layne did an excellent job of making this story unique and true to its own, despite the retelling aspect (it's minor, regardless). It grew tremendously with its progression and became better with every chapter and I enjoyed it very much.
First impressions: the fiercely independent, rule-bending millionaire teen who scoffs at her mother’s success and fantasizes about her rich caretaker of all-her-life is my first impression of Annie, and therefore, I hate her. The forced description of the MC coming from Benny’s mouth came out as way too try-hard, and Annie’a distain for her mother, while the roots are unknown, are irritating at best, especially while the point must be made that “most babysitters don’t make 200,000$ a year like *Benson* does”— stop. Cliche cliche cliche. Like, of course there’s a limo waiting for scornful Annie. Noooooo.
I don’t usually like to start any review with a negative so early, but my first impression was important to me. That doesn’t mean I hated this book. I actually really ended up enjoying the story for the most part, and it became more of a page-turner once more characters were introduced and more substance made its way into the story. The resort staff were mostly endearing, some people had just enough mystery to make you “wonder”, and the switching storylines between Lorelei and Annie were woven strategically enough for me to have to really wrap it up together for myself before I was positive about what happened and when. It was actually quite lovely!!
Now that that’s out of the way: the writer has good style. I thought her pace of show & tell was even and wasn’t lacking in the imagination department. She left enough to imagination but also showed what she wanted me to see at a good tempo. The atmosphere was unique and created well for the plot. The mythological references and classic story borrowed references made for an incredibly interesting idea, and I thought how well it must have been planned out reflected easily.
This book got better as it continued. I thought that while Annie was super predictable, it was with the understanding that you knew her, not because the plot was predictable. I enjoyed almost every character fully, and while I wish there was more backstory (sister, Annie’s past excluding delinquencies, her parents relationship) I thought it was solid and well-written. I began to dislike her less and understand her more, though as I said before I would have appreciated more backstory to really be able to grasp the dynamic of Annie and her very messed up family.
I believed whole heartedly that this would be a stand-alone book until the very end, which was interesting. I have no idea if it will be a sequel— I read this before it was released so nothing has been announced, as far as I know, but the author left it open enough to expand in an entirely different direction.
There’s one thing I’d like to add, that made this book better for me and I think it would make it worth the time for readers looking for something at little bit different. While this was clearly a slight retelling in the way of the classic Anderson Little Mermaid (kind of), the author did something ambitious and brave- something I’ve tried to master (and someday you can tell me if I’ve succeeded if I’m lucky enough to be published). She took a paranormal fantasy story and turned it into a paranormal magical realism world-clashing everyone’s-included smash of reality. I thought it was meaningfully well-delivered and really brought home the maybe-magic-like-this-could-be-real feeling, which I think all of us are looking for.
If there is a sequel, I’m looking forward to reading it. Annie’s growth through this story was admirable and the storyline became more interesting with every page-turn. Well done.
First impressions: the fiercely independent, rule-bending millionaire teen who scoffs at her mother’s success and fantasizes about her rich caretaker of all-her-life is my first impression of Annie, and therefore, I hate her. The forced description of the MC coming from Benny’s mouth came out as way too try-hard, and Annie’a distain for her mother, while the roots are unknown, are irritating at best, especially while the point must be made that “most babysitters don’t make 200,000$ a year like *Benson* does”— stop. Cliche cliche cliche. Like, of course there’s a limo waiting for scornful Annie. Noooooo.
I don’t usually like to start any review with a negative so early, but my first impression was important to me. That doesn’t mean I hated this book. I actually really ended up enjoying the story for the most part, and it became more of a page-turner once more characters were introduced and more substance made its way into the story. The resort staff were mostly endearing, some people had just enough mystery to make you “wonder”, and the switching storylines between Lorelei and Annie were woven strategically enough for me to have to really wrap it up together for myself before I was positive about what happened and when. It was actually quite lovely!!
Now that that’s out of the way: the writer has good style. I thought her pace of show & tell was even and wasn’t lacking in the imagination department. She left enough to imagination but also showed what she wanted me to see at a good tempo. The atmosphere was unique and created well for the plot. The mythological references and classic story borrowed references made for an incredibly interesting idea, and I thought how well it must have been planned out reflected easily.
This book got better as it continued. I thought that while Annie was super predictable, it was with the understanding that you knew her, not because the plot was predictable. I enjoyed almost every character fully, and while I wish there was more backstory (sister, Annie’s past excluding delinquencies, her parents relationship) I thought it was solid and well-written. I began to dislike her less and understand her more, though as I said before I would have appreciated more backstory to really be able to grasp the dynamic of Annie and her very messed up family.
I believed whole heartedly that this would be a stand-alone book until the very end, which was interesting. I have no idea if it will be a sequel— I read this before it was released so nothing has been announced, as far as I know, but the author left it open enough to expand in an entirely different direction.
There’s one thing I’d like to add, that made this book better for me and I think it would make it worth the time for readers looking for something at little bit different. While this was clearly a slight retelling in the way of the classic Anderson Little Mermaid (kind of), the author did something ambitious and brave- something I’ve tried to master (and someday you can tell me if I’ve succeeded if I’m lucky enough to be published). She took a paranormal fantasy story and turned it into a paranormal magical realism world-clashing everyone’s-included smash of reality. I thought it was meaningfully well-delivered and really brought home the maybe-magic-like-this-could-be-real feeling, which I think all of us are looking for.
If there is a sequel, I’m looking forward to reading it. Annie’s growth through this story was admirable and the storyline became more interesting with every page-turn. Well done.
September 4, 2019
Thank you to Owl Hollow Press for providing me this ARC to read and review!
I really enjoyed this book. The protagonist was very likable, and the story was unique. This book was a creative combination of family drama, romance, mystery, and fantasy. I loved the allusions to The Odyssey, and the intertwining stories of the humans and the sirens.
The setting was great - part vacation, part nightmare. I wanted to go to Viaii Nisi, but I also felt the claustrophobia of the guests and workers that were on the island.
There were a few plot points I wished were a little more fleshed out, but overall I found this to be an enjoyable, easy, and fun read. I would definitely keep it in my classroom library and recommend it to students.
I really enjoyed this book. The protagonist was very likable, and the story was unique. This book was a creative combination of family drama, romance, mystery, and fantasy. I loved the allusions to The Odyssey, and the intertwining stories of the humans and the sirens.
The setting was great - part vacation, part nightmare. I wanted to go to Viaii Nisi, but I also felt the claustrophobia of the guests and workers that were on the island.
There were a few plot points I wished were a little more fleshed out, but overall I found this to be an enjoyable, easy, and fun read. I would definitely keep it in my classroom library and recommend it to students.
November 13, 2019
Annie Mayfield is spending her summer working at her mother’s new resort on the island of Viaii Nisi. Annie has heard rumors that the island is cursed, and when people begin to go missing, Annie makes a terrifying discovery: ruins filled with human bones, and a skeleton that is half human, half fish. Can she discover the truth in time to save everyone?
These Wicked Waters felt like Jurassic Park meets Little Mermaid with mystery, gore, fantasy, and a bit of romance. It’s difficult to use so many different elements in a book and have it come together well, but Layne did a fantastic job keeping everything connected. I didn’t expect to like this story as much as I did; I thought it was going to be a fun, lighthearted, summer holiday mermaid story. But it was a lot darker and gruesome than I anticipated, which made it all the more unexpected! I liked that the romance wasn’t in-your-face insta-love, just 2 teenagers working a summer job together who seem to make a connection with one another.
There’s so many mermaid stories that I was pleasantly surprised to learn it was sirens, not the beautiful Disney-type mermaids. Sirens based off the Odyssey (a book which is mentioned throughout this story); they’re frightening, dark, ruthless, and murderers of men. The book is told between two different points of view, one being the siren Lorelei. I worried that this would mess with the flow of the story, but I found myself rushing to get to the next Lorelei chapter. Her story is so eye-opening and heart-wrenching. Yes, there were tears shed on my part.
There were two things that kept this from being a 5-star read for me. One, was the pacing. The beginning was a bit slow, and the end packed a lot in the last few chapters. I wish it had been spread out a bit more, and that we’d been given more information about Annie’s sister earlier on. And second, was the twist at the end. the bit of information given to Annie seemed unnecessary and a little “out there” (yes, “out there” even considering this story is about mythological creatures).
All in all, it was a fun yet sinister tale that I couldn’t devour fast enough! I definitely recommend if you like sirens, mermaids, and/or mythological beings.
These Wicked Waters felt like Jurassic Park meets Little Mermaid with mystery, gore, fantasy, and a bit of romance. It’s difficult to use so many different elements in a book and have it come together well, but Layne did a fantastic job keeping everything connected. I didn’t expect to like this story as much as I did; I thought it was going to be a fun, lighthearted, summer holiday mermaid story. But it was a lot darker and gruesome than I anticipated, which made it all the more unexpected! I liked that the romance wasn’t in-your-face insta-love, just 2 teenagers working a summer job together who seem to make a connection with one another.
There’s so many mermaid stories that I was pleasantly surprised to learn it was sirens, not the beautiful Disney-type mermaids. Sirens based off the Odyssey (a book which is mentioned throughout this story); they’re frightening, dark, ruthless, and murderers of men. The book is told between two different points of view, one being the siren Lorelei. I worried that this would mess with the flow of the story, but I found myself rushing to get to the next Lorelei chapter. Her story is so eye-opening and heart-wrenching. Yes, there were tears shed on my part.
There were two things that kept this from being a 5-star read for me. One, was the pacing. The beginning was a bit slow, and the end packed a lot in the last few chapters. I wish it had been spread out a bit more, and that we’d been given more information about Annie’s sister earlier on. And second, was the twist at the end. the bit of information given to Annie seemed unnecessary and a little “out there” (yes, “out there” even considering this story is about mythological creatures).
All in all, it was a fun yet sinister tale that I couldn’t devour fast enough! I definitely recommend if you like sirens, mermaids, and/or mythological beings.
September 5, 2019
I made it to the half way mark in the book and just have to DNF it. This just wasn't for me, I couldn't seem to attach myself to the main character at all and was just sick and tired of what she was doing by the mid-point of the book. If I had to hear about her wish to be rock climbing one more time...
However, that being said this is a well written book and has and interesting plot to it. It just wasn't for me.
However, that being said this is a well written book and has and interesting plot to it. It just wasn't for me.
September 1, 2019
**Disclaimer: I was given an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.**
The idea that sirens still live in our oceans was so interesting and what made me want to read this book; however, I found it hard to get past 20% of this book.
The writing leaves much to the imagination as I couldn't picture the setting or the characters very well. The main character also makes it hard for you to sympathize/care for her well-being just because of how annoying she is (not that it means she shouldn't be cared for.. I just didn't want to read about her anymore, lol)!!
Dialogue seemed stilted, as well, or juvenile? Maybe going back to some of the dialogue and adding more description will help.
2.5/3 of 5 stars
The idea that sirens still live in our oceans was so interesting and what made me want to read this book; however, I found it hard to get past 20% of this book.
The writing leaves much to the imagination as I couldn't picture the setting or the characters very well. The main character also makes it hard for you to sympathize/care for her well-being just because of how annoying she is (not that it means she shouldn't be cared for.. I just didn't want to read about her anymore, lol)!!
Dialogue seemed stilted, as well, or juvenile? Maybe going back to some of the dialogue and adding more description will help.
2.5/3 of 5 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews