Beneath the Waves

Waves #1

by Ali Vali, Charley Ongel (Narrator)

No one has her life more mapped out than Kai Merlin. She’ll succeed her mother Galen and carry out every duty expected of her—the most important of which is to keep hidden the secrets her people have kept for eons.

Vivien Palmer’s life has been just as planned out by her parents, and their dream is for her and her brother Franklin to eventually run the family business. But Vivien’s dreams lie in the depths of the oceans searching for clues to the shells she and Franklin wear around their necks.

A chance encounter as children forever linked Kai and Vivien for life, but can they find a way to be together despite what’s expected of them?

The answers lie Beneath the Waves.

Genres: Fantasy, LGBT, Romance, Lesbian, Adventure, Lesbian Fiction, Lesbian Romance

9 pages, Audible Audio

First published May 17, 2016

About the author

Ali Vali is the author of the long-running Cain Casey "Devil" series and the Genesis Clan "Forces" series, as well as numerous standalone romances including two Lambda Literary Award finalists, Calling the Dead and Love Match, and her 2017 release, Beauty and the Boss. Ali also has a novella in the collection Girls with Guns.
Originally from Cuba, Ali has retained much of her family's traditions and language and uses them frequently in her stories. Having her father read her stories and poetry before bed every night as a child infused her with a love of reading, which she carries till today. Ali currently lives outside New Orleans, Louisiana, and she has discovered that living in Louisiana provides plenty of material to draw from in creating her novels and short stories.

Reviews

[Lex Kent · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 Stars. This one was pretty disappointing for a Vali book. I’ve been a big fan of Vali for over a decade and have read around 24 of her books. This is one I actually had on my Kindle, sitting for the past 5 years. I was so excited about this book that I was kind of saving it. I know that sounds weird but I do that with certain books I’m really excited about. Unfortunately, the days and years got away from me and a book I was saving for the perfect time, sat for 5 years instead. With the sequel to this book coming out in October, it finally gave me the kick I needed to read this. I’m glad I finally read it, but to say it was a disappointment is a bit of an understatement especially since I was so excited about it.

A society of women -think Amazons- but that actually live underwater in the Queendom of Atlantis, mix with the imagination of Vali, and I thought this had so much potential. Unfortunately, not a lot really worked for me and I found myself more reading to get to the end of the book than for enjoyment. I wanted to experience this magical underground world, but Vali hardly describe it so I could not really picture what it looked like or how it all worked. While Vali tried, there just was not even close to enjoy world building. We end up spending most of the book topside on a boat or an office, so the whole Atlantis vibe was truly missing.

I think one of the main issues was that Vali was trying to do too much. She had all these ideas and instead of really developing one or two, it seemed like she kept throwing them all out there to see which ones would stick, so the plot became pretty convoluted. There were too many instances or “telling” and not enough “showing” so I never felt truly immersed into the story.

The characters were also surprisingly bland. Vali writes great characters, so I was surprised to not care much about the mains. I felt like I enjoyed reading about the Queen and her consort, more than the actual two mains. There also seemed to not be enough dialog tags so half the time I had no idea who was speaking. And it wasn’t just getting the two female mains mixed up with each other, sometimes I didn’t know if it was the father or brother speaking or one of the mains. And lastly, there was a fight scene that was really odd to me. I don’t know if I read it wrong, but it seemed like one character was kicking some ass, but then all of a sudden they are hurt and the other is winning the fight, but I somehow missed how that switch happened. I don’t know, there just were weird problems and things that didn’t feel like Vali’s writing style I have grown to love over years and years.

TLDR: This was a book I was excited to read, but in the end it was not for me. This didn’t feel like a Vali book and if anything, it felt more like it could have been a debut or a very early book in her career. There were too many issues and a convoluted plot that ruined my enjoyment. Lukewarm characters brought on a lukewarm romance so this is not a book I can recommend. I am reading the sequel, hopefully tomorrow, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I have heard that it is better than this book so I’m going into it with some hope.

[pipsqueakreviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

Atlantis.

The whole premise of Atlantis fascinates me and I wanted to be charmed, but the writing wasn't as smooth as I thought it would be. I liked some aspects of what Atlantis could offer to its all-women population and couples, which I won't go into detail because it's a nice surprise when you read about it. And I found myself taking a real liking to Kai's mothers, Queen Gallen and Queen consort Hadley and thought a prequel featuring their relationship is something that I could potentially really enjoy.

But frankly speaking, Atlantis didn't feel as majestic as I thought it would be, in the way the characters and kingdom were being described. The storyline about Kai's mission and what happens thereafter in relation to Atlantis didn't hold my interest much, and Kai and Vivien's chemistry felt strangely average so much so that I thought a relationship with Oba would have made a better story. The same Oba who is the all-knowing priestess / not-so-casual lover / friend whom Kai allegedly cares about but conveniently forgot about the entire time. (A little heartless, if you ask me.) It was also hard to figure out which character was speaking half the time and I'm not the first reader to point that out.

This book is the first book of the Waves series. From early reviews, it appears that the second book might be better than the first, so I'm hopeful about it.

[Pin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Ali Vali's writing in general (I have read twelve published books of hers, and everything she posted online), but this is her second book in a row (the first is The Romance Vote) with which I had similar problems. Something in the story structure did not flow well. It happened to me on several levels -- in the sentence structure, paragraph structure, chapter structure. In too many places I had problems recognizing who speaks to whom, even when pronouns she or he are used. I returned back to confirm who that she or he is and that pulled me out of the story many times. Several times I had the feeling that something was missing between two paragraphs. I felt similar gaps between some chapters too. We all know that what-are-they-talking-about kind of feeling -- like there is a small naughty worm in the book that eats words or switches their places to confuse you. I am a pretty fast reader, but here I was slow because I kept constantly returning to the previous text trying to hook the loose ends so to say. It was tiring and annoying.
The above spoiled an otherwise interesting story with an intriguing premise about a female-only world beneath the oceans and seas. For those who like that kind of fantasy and do not care about things I tried to explain (I don't know if I succeeded) this can be a fun read. I would wait for the sixth installment of the very good Cain Casey series to find if this new way of writing is unintentional (due to deadlines or similar) or if it has become a rule.
Btw the cover is simple but beautiful.
2.5 stars rounded up

*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*

[MZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars. I generally like Vali’s books a lot, especially the last couple of books that I read I enjoyed very much. This book however, was a disappointment and not at all what I’m used to from Vali.

Let’s start with what I did like. The premise of the book is great. The secret city of Atlantis, ruled by a female population with advanced technology, a romance between the heir of the throne and a human, and a force threatening it all. This is exactly the type of book that I like, if only it was better executed. The writing was rough, often I had no idea who was speaking and had to backtrack to figure this out, there were multiple storylines that fizzled out, for a long time I had no idea where the main storyline was going, there was missing information and there were some plot holes. I liked the characters well enough though (they could use a bit more depth), so hopefully the second book will continue to build on their personalities.

I read this book because I have the second book to read and if I’m honest, I probably wouldn’t have finished this if it weren’t for that second book. I still like the idea behind all this, so fingers crossed that the second book will be more to my liking.

[khi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit confusing, far fetched and cheesy but not that bad. Reviews on here had me thinking I was about to experience hell with this book.

Biggest struggle with this book would be understanding the setting of Atlantis.

[M · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't you just hate it when you buy a book based on a great cover, good blurb and a couple of decent reviews... and it turns out to be a stinker!

I'm not usually one to give poor reviews, I know that the author has put a huge amount of time and energy into writing, rewriting and then promoting this book. This is not something I have done myself and consequently in have only the highest regard for those that can and do.

I was brought up to believe if you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all.

However, I do get frustrated when what could have been an interesting and entertaining read ends up being a dogs dinner.

Perhaps time to spread the blame, an editor shouldn't just check the spelling and grammar, they should be working with an author about pacing, style, context and plot coherence. This book felt like rocks being dropped on my head.

Plot - starts ridiculously and ends up pure tripe
Characters- 1 dimensional
Emotion - none
Romance - none
Excitement - none
Cover - great :)

Sigh...

Rant over

[Tiff · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second book by the author Ali Vali. The first, The Devil Inside, didn’t really do much for me, so I have overlooked most of this author’s work. The reason I picked this book is the cover. I thought it was absolutely stunning and I was intrigued. I though the book was going to be about diving, and well it does have that aspect. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that the book would be about a kingdom of women running the lost city of Atlantis and their heir becoming involved in the Gulf Coast’s oil industry.

Kai Merlin is the heir to Atlantis kingdom. This empire is 100% women who guide Earth’s population in unsuspecting ways. Kai after graduating from the Academy, Kai chooses her mission, accompanied by to mega great white sharks, to go to the Gulf Coast to work and guide offshore drilling to become conscientious of the environment. She must also right a wrong that she did while she was a young girl that forever changed the lives of two human children.
Vivien Palmer is one of those children. When she was eight years old she witnessed a girl near her age emerge from the water, talk to her and her brother and then swim away right into a huge swarm of sharks. For years, Vivien has searched for clues as to who this girl could have been and if she survived the possible shark attack. Vivien is also the daughter to Palmer Oil, yup you guessed it, an offshore drilling company.

I was confused for most of this book. I didn’t really understand what was going on at times especially if it involved the Atlantis portion of this book. Kai’s people, to me, ran together. There a mothers, grandmothers, an all-seeing lover, and countless other random characters making up Atlantis. They became jumbled in my brain and I felt completely disconnected. The information that I took from their scenes was minimal, jumbled and more puzzling than anything. There were times when I literally checked my Kindle to make sure it wasn’t skipping pages. Nope it was in working order.

I give credit to Vali for creating a world so unlike any other. The premise was as great as the cover. It just didn’t translate well to me the reader. 2.5 stars

[Nolly Frances Sepulveda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading this. It was fun reading getting to know Kia and Vivien as well as Frankie. The dynamics of Kia's world, that Atlantis is ruled by strong, capable women was pretty cool. The story kept me wanting to speed up but also slow down my reading, you know the "hurry up and get there" to the "wait! I don't want it to end" kind of feeling. It was intriguing and exciting, learning more about both families and Kia's and Vivien's dreams leaves me wanting more. Maybe it will come to be. Thanks Ali

[Lexxi Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review.

My first book by this author, and second work (previously read a short story).

I admit that I was first drawn to this book because of the cover. There are ruins under the sea, and divers swimming around. I love exploration and discovery stories, though I seem to rarely read them. This one looked interesting. Then I read the book description and realized that the book wasn’t exactly what I’d expect. Don’t worry, once I started reading, the book turned out to be even more different than expected.

Point of Views
There are four points of views:
(1) Vivien Palmer, (2) Kai Merlin, (3) Galen & Hadley Merlin, and (4) Steve Hawksworth.

Characters
Kai Merlin is the daughter of Galen Merlin & Hadley Marcus East Merlin and designated heir to her mother’s . . . um . . . queendom under the sea. You know, Atlantis. The book opens with her newly graduated from the academy and on assignment (which is confusing because there’s also a longish history of her wandering specific spots ‘up above the waves’ doing good things, like Peace Corps, and finding water). Her assignment, chosen by her herself, takes her to the Gulf of Mexico.
Of importance : Isla Hessen and Talin Sander (members of her team), Ivan and Ram (sharks), Galen Merlin & Hadley Marus East Merlin (mother and mother), Sibyl Merlin (grandmother), Brook & Mari (grandmothers)

Vivien Palmer is the daughter of Winston and Cornelia Palmer and designated as heir to the control of Palmer oil (I forget now the name of their company). The parents exert a lot of pressure on Vivien to do their bidding, and to marry a man (specifically Steve Hawksworth). Vivien would prefer to spend her time exploring beneath the waves. Which she does every chance she gets. Before the start of this book, Vivien worked as the supervising engineer (or whatever her title was) on Triton, an oil platform nearly completion and ‘turn on’.
Of importance : Frankie Palmer (brother), Winston Palmer (father), Cornelia Palmer (mother),

Galen & Hadley Merlin : Galen is queen, Hadley is her consort. Kai is their sole child.
Of importance : Sibyl Merlin (Galen’s mother), Kai, Clarice (Galen’s sister), Brook & Mari (Hadley’s mothers)

Steve Hawksworth is a senior vice president in the Palmer oil company, and designated husband to Vivien Palmer. At least Winston Palmer has designated him as such.
Of importance : Tanice Themis (his assistant), Jonathan Hawksworth

Franklin ‘Frankie’ Winston Palmer V is Vivien’s brother, and skilled with contracts. He is wheel-chair bound.
Of importance : Vivien, parents.

Winston Palmer head of Palmer Oil, father of Vivien and Frankie Palmer. Husband of Cornelia Palmer. A hard charging oil man who has strong opinions and doesn’t like people going against his wishes (which includes ignoring the fact that his daughter is a lesbian, and that she’d prefer to do something else with her life than work for Palmer Oil).
Of importance : Palmer people.

Cornelia Palmer is Winston’s wife and has backed him for the last few years, but by the time of this book, has ‘awoken’ to the idea that she might have pushed her kids away.
Of importance : Palmers

Plot
The book follows several points of view to convey the story. Boiled down – a new oil platform is nearing completion – it’s an oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico that Vivien has worked hard on. Both to get it approved, to meet regulators stringent oversight (with BP’s Deepwater horizon oil spill in the background), and her own desire to be as environmentally friendly as possible.

As the book opens, though, Vivien is being forced back to the fold, to the corner office of Palmer Oil. Where she, and presumably Frankie, will be groomed to take over the company. Also, her parents keep thrusting a man named Steve Hawksworth at her with the intention that she would marry him. Despite the fact that Vivien is a lesbian and her parents know this fact. And, to add to the pressures, someone has been put in Vivien’s place on the Triton oil platform – Kai Merlin.

So Vivien proceeds through the book with this pressure on her, while at the same time trying to keep up her explorations of the underwater areas of earth. Plus, a close up examination of this ‘Kai’ person who has been thrust into her old role. She, Vivien, is suspicious by nature, and this certainly is suspicious.

Meanwhile Kai has arrived with the assignment in the Gulf Coast area to try to, as much as possible, help enhance the environmental safe guards.

Galen and Hadley, since they also have a POV, are tasked with the mission of watching things unfold while working as leaders of their people, and having vaguely inappropriate public sex.

Steve, also a POV, is on a quest to take over Palmer Oil by any means necessary. Plan A involves marrying Vivien and pushing her to the side to take the reins of Palmer.

I’m purposely leaving out a lot. Mostly because this is a review not a plot summary. Just a few things left to note regarding the plot - there are some the fantasy-like elements in the story, – the magical shells that connect Franklin to Vivien, and both to Kai; the ‘magical’ abilities of Kai with underwater thingies, like sharks. And there are science fiction elements – the advanced technology of Kai's people, and the part where they aren’t actually humans but aliens. (this spoiler is one that is probably one that gets mentioned immediately, but I forget now if it is the case, so spoiler tag used).

Overall
I've found, from my extensive reading of Vali, I joke with myself, that I find that there is something of a fog/haze between me and the characters. I'm not really sure how to describe it, but I noticed it in both works I've read by Vali. A certain distance between me, the reader, and them, the characters. There's a good chance that that is a reason I had less luck with the short story I read by her than with this book. Because I did like this book more than the short story. Then again, the book and the short story were/are in different genres. That might have played a part as well.

There is an interesting and good story here. It wasn't exactly what I had hoped for, but it still was good. And there were scenes, traces, of what I had hoped for in this book - the exploration/discovery that was hinted at with the picture of ruins underwater and divers. No, this was mostly a different story than exploring for ruins.

For those who care about such things - there is graphic depictions of sexual encounters in this book, more than one, and involving more than one couple.

I enjoyed the book and would read another in this 'universe' if a sequel would appear. One lasting thought, though - part of my disconnect between expectations and the reality of the book is in how the book is described. Things are hinted at, but not well enough to indicate that that this is, while also being a lesbian romance, it is also a work of science fiction (though I know of at least one author who felt the need to write a blog post pointing out that their book wasn't science fiction but a romance (despite the fact that it was, you know, science fiction) because of readers), and, to a certain extent, a fantasy (in the "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."(Arthur C. Clarke) way - there is at least three or four elements that are more in the realm of fantasy than science fiction, but could be conceivably be placed in the realm of science fiction with adequate explanations - which weren't given for those specific elements). Also, considering how well books that involve Atlantis sell, it's vaguely confusing that that specific aspect isn't mentioned in the book description.

It's not the book itself, but the book description. I mean, much of the stuff 'hidden' from the reader before they open the book, is basically revealed immediately upon opening the book. There are a few twists and turns, that I have not included in my review, but the fact that the book involves two people from different cultures, one of whom is from a culture that lives 'beneath the sea' of an advanced technological base is learned immediately by the reader.

It's true that there is a note in the book description that would indicate that there is something 'different' about Merlin's people. But I had read it more like those people from the Mummy movie who had spent eons as guardians of sacred stuff. Which is an incorrect read of the facts found within the book. Found immediately, I mean.

Right, so, overall I rather enjoyed the book and would not hesitate to rate it somewhere north of 4 stars, and likely somewhere around 4.67.

May 3 2016

[Pippa D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kai Merlin, the daughter of the ruler of the clan, has her life mapped out for her. Destined to lead one day, she works hard to be the best at everything. As part of her transition after training, she is required to pick an assignment which will take her above the waves and into the realm of the humans.

Kai chooses to work with an oil business, trying to improve their processes to better protect the workers and the environment. This is where she comes across Vivien Palmer, the woman in charge of the new rig, and the daughter of the founder of the oil company.

Kai soon realises that she and Vivien have more in common than the expectations of their families. Both headstrong, and wanting a better life for themselves and the planet, Kai and Vivien must learn to work together. The intense attraction is only part of it, but will they be able to manage it all?

Vali gave me a really good sense of the expectations of family and the pressures which result. Of the two main characters, Kai is better drawn and has more backstory. She is a bit perfect though, and never seems to put a foot wrong. Vivien was actually the more interesting character, and had the most challenging role in the story. I liked how she came to grips with the unusual information thrown her way as the story progressed.

This was part fantasy and part romance, and Vali managed both elements well. The relationship between the two main characters was well handled, and the sex scenes appropriately intense. The supporting characters weren’t given much to work with, and the baddies were a bit two dimensional. Overall though, I really liked the interactions and the inventiveness of the author in constructing the undersea universe and the resultant interactions with humans.

This was engaging and inventive and thoroughly enjoyable.

Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

[Delitealex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kai Merlin is expected to take over as ruler of her people when the time comes for her mother to retire. She takes her duties and responsibilities very seriously. As her training ends she has to choose an assignment working closely with humans. She decides to work on an oil rig in order to teach the company ways that they can help not harm the environment.

Vivien Palmer is expected to be an executive in her family's oil company. She wants to be more hands on instead of having to be behind a desk in the office. Vivien also has a love of the water and treasure hunting.

I loved Kai's world. This version of Atlantis full of women was awesome. Galen and Hadley were a great couple. They were very protective of Kai but also proud and trying hard to let let make her own decisions. I enjoyed learning of the technology of Atlantis and also the history.


Vivien and Frankie's close relationship was one of my favorite things about the book. Many times it seemed like them against the world. I loved how they believed in each other.


The glimpses of the oil industry was interesting. I also liked the explanations of the projects that Kai came up with and funded that benefited the environment.

The pacing was kinda of slow but I really liked the buildup. Especially the slow build-up of Kai and Vivien's friendship. The book was hard to put down. I was trying to figure out what was going to happen next. Enjoyed the ending and can't wait to read more books by Ali Vali.

I received this book from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kai is the princess of an all female world based beneath the worlds oceans and seas. She chooses a mission in which she becomes involved in the oil industry in order to make them more environmentally conscious. She is also on a mission to help two children who she showed herself to when she was a young girl.

Vivien Palmer is the daughter of the head of an oil company, she loves the water and would much prefer to be on her boat searching for treasures than stuck in an office. To get what she wants she has to go against what her father has planned for her future in the business.

If you like fantasy stories this one might appeal to you, Kai must work to save her world while ensuring her attraction to Vivien doesn't cloud her judgement. The attraction and romance element of this book are dealt with well.

I have given this one 3 stars because some of the fantasy parts of the story lost me. The cover and my presumption that the book was about diving drew me in but I struggled with some elements of the story. I usually don't read the reviews of netgalley books before I get them as I don't want them to sway me so I didn't realise the fantasy part of the story. Overall though it was a nice read and I will be looking at some of the authors other work.

ARC received from publisher via NetGalley

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not up to par with the Devil series books. If you are looking for something different and not your typical romance... look no further this is very unique. I did like the idea and the story overall. I had some trouble keeping characters straight on Kai side of things. Who was birth mom, who was queen -it all just kept confusing me. I did find the whole concept intriguing and just wished for a better flow/understanding at times.

[Penelope · Rating 3 out of 5]

An honest review thanks to NetGalley. I have always been a big fan of Vali's work, and this one was no different. I did love the take on Atlantis and the lives of these people. The story was well thought out and nice, but I wanted more. Especially the ending I wanted to see what happened next, I wanted to see Vivian move down with Kai and the next step of their lives. I also felt a little was unexplained with Steve and what was found on the Triton. If we had a little more information all around this would have been a four-star book! Nonetheless, this was a great read, and you will enjoy!

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I’m excited Ali is adding a sequel. I can’t wait to have more of Kai and Vivien and to see how their lives are faring under the waves.

[Maryp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I'm not sure what guys problem is with this book but I personally lived it.

Is it different, yes and that's what's great about it for me. When I thought I'd figured out what was happening the writer would switch things up.

I know we all love our feel good reads, the macho studs that save the day and all that stuff buts it's okay to mix it up once in a while.

To Ali Vali just like all your other works, I loved it.

The only question is would you consider making it a series, I'd love to know the before and after?

[Cece S · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 I have high hopes for book 2...

[Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I read some of the other reviews for this book, I really start to wonder if I just got done reading the same title those readers did. This was such a huge miss for me. I can't even really begin to summarize the plot because it is so convoluted and filled with holes the size of Great White sharks, but it has something to do with an underwater race of females--the Atlantians--protecting fish and the water (maybe?) by integrating with humans and "suggesting" eco-friendly solutions and ideas? Specifically, this story revolves around Kai (of Atlantis) who after interacting for less than five minutes with a couple of children when she was twelve apparently made such a damaging impact upon their lives (in those whole five minutes) that now as an adult she must make amends to bring together their entire family while also doing her eco-friendly fish thing. And did I mention there are magic shells these Atlantians wear, which conveniently allow them to read each others minds and push new thoughts/emotions on others-- because that doesn't sound invasive at all. The magic shell necklaces also apparently allow them to do the Vulcan nerve pinch on people, again, not morally objectionable for some reason.
I give points to the author for attempting to spin up a rich world with a background and mythology, but she does it in such a condensed fashion that at times it feels like she's filling pages on background characters that really have nothing to do with moving the story forward. If this was an epic series spanning multiple books, sure, get into the in depth backstory with other characters and how this Atlantian society came to be is structured, etc. It feels like too much information, too quickly, and in no way related to the real story in this standalone title.
Now to the romance: just because you write two people getting naked with eachother and declaring their undying love doesn't mean that your audience will buy it. Kai and Vivien--our two protagonists--have pretty much zero chemistry from the start, Kai even comments how there's nothing there to the woman, and then somehow she makes the leap to in her pants. Granted, there seemed to be a lot of magic-shell emotion suggestions going on to get to that point, but again, Kai's a good guy so that can't possibly be morally wrong!
So much of this story centers around that 5 minute meeting as children. The characters keep coming back to that event over and over, and it literally has broken the family apart. And yet the scene itself in the book is so short and honestly inconsequential. For something so tragic and important to this story, I would have appreciated the weight of it more had the author crafted an entire chapter around it and had this chance meeting span several days or weeks instead of a quick conversation. There is no emotional weight behind it to the reader, in fact it's puzzling as hell trying to figure out why the event had much if any impact on Vivien and her family.
Overall impression of the book: completely ridiculous. Impression while reading it: why am I reading this? Impression after reading it: why did I bother finishing this?

ARC provided by NetGalley

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from Inked Rainbow Reads in return for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the storyline in this book. Farfetched? Sure. Entertaining? Definitely. A new and interesting take on the legend of Atlantis, it was fun to read. Kai definitely has that otherworldly Alpha thing going on, and Vivien is no nonsense but troubled due to a childhood encounter. Vivien battles against her parents, who feel they know what's best for her and are pressuring her to fall in line. Her only bastion against this pressure is her brother, Frankie. The two support each other completely. When Kai appears on the scene, she becomes another lodestone for Vivien, even though Vivien isn't sure why she's attracted to Kai. Things seem hopeless as far as their future goes, but Kai is unable to stop herself from getting involved with Vivien. The underlying cause for the events in this book was rather surprising, and the resolution was intriguing. The resolution of Vivien and Kai's future is a good ride as well. Two things that kept this from getting a higher rating from me: First, Vivien seems asexual before meeting Kai. I believe this is explained by the unnatural link between Frankie and Vivien (Kai's mistake so many years ago) being so intense that there wasn't room for anybody else. But she doesn't seem too weirded out by waking up one day intensely attracted to a woman. Second, it seemed overly easy for Kai's people to find out what was going on. Perhaps the only reason they didn't catch what was happening earlier is because nobody ever thought it could happen, so nobody expected it. But I would have thought people bent on world domination would hide their plans better.
Anyway, I recommend the book to anyone who wants a little paranormal fantasy with their romance - especially a little fantasy that is different from the usual paranormal fare. It definitely kept me turning pages.

[A.W. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kai Merlin, eventually set to take her mother's place as Queen of Atlantis, takes on an assignment of her choice above the sea at the Gulf of Mexico. Vivien Palmer, designated heir to her father's oil company, finds out that Kai is replacing her and that her father has other plans for her. Another task is given to Kai, what happened years ago to two young children had lasting effects on them, and she must right that situation. The two young children are none other than Vivien Palmer and her brother, Frankie Palmer.

From reading the blurb, this was not the type of book I expected. It had an interesting plot but fell short in the delivery. I would've liked to have read more about Kai's world rather than just reading about the people in it.

I felt that there were too many secondary characters and only a few were well fleshed out. The shells seemed to have a lot of power, perhaps one too many uses to be believable even if it is fantasy.

I've read several of Ali Vali works and I must say that Beneath The Waves is not among my favourites.

Review also posted here: http://wp.me/p4Pp9O-kg

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lee-Anne Coetzer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beneath the Waves by Ali Vali 

Scoring Criteria - Chemistry (3.5) – Story (4) – Characters (4) – Entertainment (4.5) –Scenery (3.5). Steaminess level 2 Overall rating 3.8* 

If you are into treasure hunting and stories of Atlantis - like I am - then this is a must-read. The first of two books. Thank the Goddess because after book 1 you will be hooked and need more. Kai Merlin life is groomed and designed to succeed her mother Galen and keep their kingdom a secret from the human world. Her legacy is to keep the balance between the oceans and humans. 

Vivien Palmer’s life has been planned out for her and she is destined to run their family business. However, a childhood encounter links her to the depths of the ocean, in search of answers. She thrives at sea and dreads being locked up in an office. 

Will Vivien and Kai find a way to be together in a world where they are destined to pull them apart? 

This was my first lesbian fantasy romance and I LOVE IT! Ali Vali’s storyline is solid and well written. It's entertaining and interesting. Let's face it mermaids are hot. The connection between these characters is more than dreamy -I so want that.

Can't wait to read the second book. 

Follow me on Instagram @les.bi.ann.read.it or www.lesbiann.co.za

[Cindy Hodgkiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pure Ali Vali - Right on target!

I love Ali Vali’s style of writing. This one is no different. She transports you to another place so easily. I can a,wYs just relax and jump into her storyline and forget whatever else is going on around me for a time. Whether it’s with the Cain Casey saga or the Dragon Tree or Beneath the Waves, I take an extremely relaxing mental vacation and enjoy every minute!

[Doug Elliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun combination of romance, science-fiction, mythology and corporate intrigue. Despite their differences the main characters seem to make a good pair. There is a decent secondary cast though at points there are a few too many characters to keep track of. There are also a few spots where it is a little difficult to tell who is speaking. A good read with the expected HEA and a baby on the way.

[Mirtha Siblesz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book!

This is the first sci-fi story I’ve read by Vali. The author is an excellent writer and this story is just as good as all her other books! The two main characters were well developed. The plot was very suspenseful and without giving it away with spoilers, I think this book was well done!

[Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book

This is a really interesting and very good read. This book has it all science fiction, mystery, romance. Lets not forget the references to Atlantis one of history's mysteries. Once I started this book it kept my interest from page one until the end. Thanks for another winner.

[J H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but something was off

Ms. Vali is one of my favorite authors, but this novel seemed below her usual standard. I think it was an editing problem, more than anything else. The characters were great, and the plot was good, but something just seemed to be missing.

[Jennifer Reaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting take on the mermaid type story. The love story felt a little rushed even with the connection the characters had and I felt it ended a bit abruptly. Not a bad story and I will be jumping into the second part right away.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An awesome supernatural story

An awesome supernatural story about secret underwater civilizations, broken families, misogyny & the coexistence of humanity & its environment... Did I mention love is their too.

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book!
And I really need a series for this one, too many things were letting hanging in the future.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wouldn't say I like sci-fi so much, but I do like paranormal a lot. This book I would say is a bit of both? Excellent story and I loved the characters a lot. Of course I was happy with the ending.