Fangs & Fins

Blood, Bloom, & Water #1

by Amy McNulty

A dapper vampire. A sullen merman. Two heirs to a great conflict—and each needs to claim a beloved to become his kindred’s champion.High school senior Ember Goodwin never had a sister, but after her mom’s remarriage, she now has two. The eldest is no stranger to her—Ivy is a witty girl in her grade who’s almost never spoken to the shy bookworm before—but she’s surprised to find the popular girl quite amiable. Their burgeoning friendship is tested, however, when Dean Horne, a pale, besuited charmer, shows interest in them both and plans to reveal his appetite for blood to the one who’ll stand by his side.Seventeen-year-old Ivy Sheppard is tired of splitting her time between her dad’s and her mom’s, particularly when her dad uproots their lives to move them in with his new wife and step-daughter. Used to rolling with her parents’ whims, she tries to make the best of it and befriend her nerdy new step-sister. Her hectic life grows more unwieldy when she catches the eye of junior Calder Poole, whom she swears she sees swap well-toned legs for a pair of fins during a dip in a lake. Now she’s fending off suitors left and right, all while trying to get to the bottom of the strange happenings in her town.The first book in the Blood, Bloom, & Water series sets family against family and friend against friend as an epic, ancient war comes to a head in a supposedly sleepy suburb.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Mermaids, Vampires, Ebooks

314 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2018

About the author

Amy McNulty is an editor and author of books that run the gamut from YA speculative fiction to contemporary romance. A lifelong fiction fanatic, she fangirls over books, anime, manga, comics, movies, games, and TV shows from her home state of Wisconsin. When not editing her clients’ novels, she’s busy fulfilling her dream by crafting fantastical worlds of her own.

Reviews

[Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original review

This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Amy McNulty!

Fangs & Fins is the first book in the Blood, Bloom & Water series and tells the story of Ember and her step-sister Ivy. They are both opposites, but they have one thing in common: having the interest of a vampire and a merman…

Fangs & Fins is such an interesting concept! I really like that there are vampires and mermaids in this book. I’ve never read about these 2 creatures combined in 1 book so that made Fangs & Fins definitely original!

I liked the main characters, Ember and Ivy, because they were both opposites but at the same time they weren’t a bit shallow. It felt like the characters weren’t really persons and I couldn’t connect with them. I had the same feeling with Dean and Calder, they both seemed great but they weren’t that deep.

The story itself was interesting but slow-paced. I had a hard time reading this book because the writing style just wasn’t my thing and I didn’t always like the double perspective. Sometimes I didn’t want to read in Ember’s perspective or sometimes I didn’t want to read in Ivy’s perspective. I just wasn’t feeling the characters.

Besides the negative points, I’m still interested in reading the sequel, Salt & Venom/i>!

[Tanya · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried to like this book, but the main characters are all so unbelievable and the girls are terrible- poor character, have no will of their own, and make bad choices with no sort of solid reasoning. Also, the so-called best friends are yuck..... I don't get this book at all. The boys are just as bad, or worse: cowards, manipulators, neither of the courtships make sense at all.

Not my thing I guess.

[Elyse · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were some great lines in this book - full of insight about how people think, but the majority of this book was filler while the author tried to stretch this story into multiple books. Nothing really happens in this book past the first two chapters, and it was disappointing. There is such an interesting framework, but the execution was not that great.

[Tiffany Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two heirs to a conflict that has lasted generations, one a dapper vampire and one a sullen merman, each needing to find a beloved to become his kindreds’ champion. After her mother’s remarriage, high school senior, Ember Goodwin, suddenly finds herself with not one but two stepsisters, after spending her entire life as an only child. She’s familiar with the older of her new sisters as they both attend the same high school. Ivy is a witty, popular girl in the same grade, who’s never really spoken to Ember, so Ember’s a little surprised to find that she’s friendly and they seem to get along. Their blossoming friendship is quickly put to the test when Dean Horne, a pale somewhat old fashioned new student in a suit, initially shows interest in both girls, planning to reveal his taste for blood to the one he chooses to stand by his side as champion. Seventeen year old Ivy Shepherd is beyond tired of splitting her time between her divorced parents’ homes, especially after her father remarried and moves to his new wife’s home. But, she decides to try and make the best of it by becoming friends with her nerdy new stepsister. Her life becomes even more stressful when she catches the eye of junior, Calder Poole. She’s convinced that she saw him with a mermaid tail, where his legs should have been. Now she finds herself with more than enough suitors and trying to discover the truth about the strange events that are happening around town.

This is the first book in Amy McNulty’s “Blood, Bloom, and Water” series, but not the first book I’ve read by this author. Nor will it be the last. Once again, she’s created an amazing storyline that has the perfect amount of action, drama, emotion, and conflict with a bit of romance thrown in. In this story, family is pitted against family and friend against friend as a quiet, small town finds itself the setting of an ancient war coming to a head. Amy did such a great job with her characters and manages to alternate points of view between Ember and Ivy, giving both girl a distinct voice of her own as she tells her side of the story. She does an excellent job at showing the inner turmoil both of them are feeling as they each try to figure out what the right thing to do is while also trying to stay loyal to each other, trying desperately not to let this ancient war keep from splitting their new family and their newly formed bond. Honestly, this story is amazing so now there are two series that I’m going to have to nag for sequels to.

Thank you to Amy McNulty and Snowy Wings Publishing for granting me an ARC copy, in exchange for an honest review. I understand that I am by no means obligated to give a positive review and every opinion expressed in my review is completely my own.

[Anniek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ember's life changes drastically when her mother remarries. She always was an only child, but now has to share her home with her two stepsisters. Adjusting to her new life with her popular stepsister Ivy might take some time, but both girls are willing to make it work. In town strange things are happening and there are two boys who suddenly show a lot of interest in Ember and Ivy. Are these boys genuinely interested or are they hiding something?

The merfolk and the vampires have lived in relative peace the past few decades. The Princes were waiting for their Champions and it seems that they have found them at last. With their Champions by their side the Princes have to end the war that has been building up between them. Ivy has just gained an extra sister and Ember has started to come out of her shell a bit. Ember never had a boyfriend and now that she's been chosen as Dean's Champion, hard decisions must be made. Will she stand by her Prince and fight to the death if she has to?

Nobody notices Ember as she is a shy, quirky girl who keeps to herself. She can't believe it when Dean, one of the hottest guys at school, seems to be interested in her. Ember is really sweet in her own funny way and I absolutely adored her. Being such a introverted girl was a big contrast with being the Champion of the vampire Prince. I loved that in her character. Ember and Ivy are very different and I really liked reading about how they were bonding as new sisters.

Fangs & Fins is a thrilling story about a battle between merfolk and vampires. I loved to read about magical beings, family bonds and ancient wars. Faeries are trying to keep everything fair, but that is not an easy job. I love stories about vampires and with merfolk and faeries present as well, I knew I was going to be hooked. Amy McNulty has created a terrific interesting world. Fangs & Fins is fast-paced and easy to follow. Amy McNulty knows how to write a magical story and definitely managed to enchant me. I can't wait till the next book in the Blood, Bloom, Water series comes out and am eager to find out how Ember and Ivy's story will continue.

[Kelsey Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read a few other books by Amy McNulty and I really enjoyed them and loved the worlds she could come up with. So I was very happy to receive this being part of her review team!

Our two main characters are Ember and Ivy, they've just become step sisters. Ivy the most popular girl at school and Ember the complete opposite lived pretty normal lives until their parents decided to get married and Ivy and her little sister Autumn moved into Ember's house.

There's a new boy in town, Dean and a quiet jock, Calder that are suddenly very interested in Ember and Ivy. They definitely don't see that these two boys will turn their lives upside down. Will Ember and Ivy be split apart or will they stick together till the end? You'll have to read to find out and you may find that you'll root for your own side.
I personally was Team Dean all the way! Calder, seemed like such a pansy to me, while D was a tall,dark and handsome strong gentlemen. You may think other wise though! There's also one other mysterious male in the girls life and I think he was above all my favorite character of the whole story! If you decide to read this I can't wait for you to meet him.
All the characters were fantastically written. I believe Ember was my favorite of the sisters because she was definitely like high school me. Both sisters are extremely powerful in their own way though.

Left with so many questions and shocking details I can't wait for the next book in the series. This one was so good, if I wasn't so busy I could have read it in one sitting. I did read it in 2 days though. Now I will be eagerly awaiting the next book because it will surely be even better than the first because of course things are just getting started. ;]

Of course if your a fan of Vampires and Mer people I recommend this book to you and also if you love YA Fantasy and a little romance. Looking for a fun, quick and exciting read? This one is for you!

[Nicole Vanadia Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author sent me a free copy for an honest review. The premise of the story was original. Mere-people and vampires aren't two supernatural creatures normally paired together. I'm not completely sure it worked, but it was readable and interesting. I didn't mistaken it for another YA Paranormal I've already read. I liked the two main characters but I didn't love them. The two male main characters left a decent amount to be desired. I thought the vampire was a better character but he lacked depth of characterization. His stuck in the 40s schtick was a little annoying. The mereman was too cowardly and meek to be a leader or prince. I didn't feel like we got to know him at all. The book suffered from too many minor character introductions, therefore, no one was as three dimensional as they should be. I did not enjoy the POV changes between girls. It ruined the flow of the story and the jumping led to some confusion in a somewhat confusing plot. My biggest flaw is that by the end of the first book, we still don't have a good grasp on why we even need a champion, what the feud or war is about, and the general background of either side. Not great world building set in our normal world. With this being said, I want to read the next in the series just to get more info and see what happens. It was a mediocre start that I'm hoping improves.

Side note: the editing on this could have used another once over. A good handful of misspellings, missed words, or grammatical errors. If these cause you major stress, beware.

[Kalli Kounavong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ember and Ivy have just become sisters (or Step-sisters, as it were) since Ember's mother married Ivy's father. Due to an as yet to be determined Claus in the war, the 2 sides had to wait until 2 girls who lived in the house close to the consummate land to choose a Champion. Ok, so what do I say without giving away too much? Obviously, Ember was chosen to be the Champion for Dean, and Ivy was chosen for Calder. On the one hand, Dean is stronger, faster, and "seemingly" better. Calder seems kind of, um, cowardly? He runs and hides behind Ivy, whereas Dean is VERY hesitant to put Ember in direct danger. Then you have Orin. He's the neutral ground. I don't want to give too much away! But there is so much that happens and so many twists that I don't think you can actually trust what you're reading just yet! This particular author likes to throw out little nuggets of truth mixed in with misdirection so you think you have the story predicted, and you THINK you have the characters down, but really you know nothing! LOL I can't wait for book 2!! I reserve the right to with-hold my approval for any team without further information. I feel like I might be being tricked somehow. HAHA!

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

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**I got this book as an e-book from the author for an honest review**

To start this off, this book took me a solid month, specifically 6 weeks, to finish. It was very slow 🐢 in the beginning and I simply could not get into it. I didn’t find myself interested in any of the characters nor did I find the situation between mermaids vs. vampires to be even remotely intriguing. The synopsis made it seem much more fascinating with two heirs from both species fighting and claiming a beloved to become their champion. However, I found the execution of the story to be lackluster. 😔

The biggest problem for me was that I simply could not find any sort of attraction between either heirs or their respective beloveds. It was even pointed out at some point in the book that either Dean or Calder would have been equally fine with either one of the girls, Ember or Ivy. That literally meant that they didn’t care much for them specifically – just for the purpose of defeating the other species and winning their decades-old feud. So I couldn’t find anything romantic about either pairs. For a romance novel that discusses about claiming a “beloved”, it seemed quite important for me to at least get the impression that the romance aspect was done naturally and not at all forced. Unfortunately, I was not at all impressed with this particularly element in the book. 😔

However, I did enjoy reading about Ember and Ivy. I liked their relationship together and how even though Ivy was always “popular” whereas Ember was on the shyer end of the spectrum, after becoming step-sisters, they seemed to connect with each other fairly well. I also liked how Ivy wasn’t the stereotypical popular girl who is nasty to everyone else beneath her and I also liked how her friends were the same way. They were accepting of Ember and her best friend, Journey. In fact, they all became relatively close at the end 👯. So for Ember and Ivy’s relationship, I actually did enjoy reading about them.

Overall, I was still disappointed with the book. Because I found the romance to be lacking and the overall pacing of the book to be quite slow, I don’t think I would recommend it. There also wasn’t any real world-building such as why the mermaids and vampires have been in this feud for decades and how does the fae dude come into play. So, that being said, I don’t think I will pick up the rest of the series.

[debturk1970_bookvibes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Tale Of Unrest In & Out The Woods & Pool!!🌳🏊✨

(Read using Kindle Unlimited)
Two new Step Sisters, one the 'good girl' Ember & one the 'popular girl' Ivy. Though they're very different they seem like they'll be able to get along without too much of a struggle 👍 Ivy is pleased that Ember seems to genuinely like her baby sister Autumn which helps!!

On the first day of school, since their Parents married, they are both approached by two different guys. Dean is new, old fashioned, very good looking & has a sensitivity to light. Calder is younger at 16 to their 17/18 yrs, a swimmer, tall & muscular & very good looking!! Where Ember is used to being overlooked by everyone, Ivy has had boyfriends in the past but isn't looking for one currently!! Then we have Orin, he's a 'Bloom' and is viewed as neutral - is he though? We shall have to wait and see 😉

This is a tale pitting sisters against each other in a war that shouldn't involve them. It's a war that's been waged behind the curtain of the supernatural world between two factions that want to totally annihilate the other!! 😳

I didn't love this book, I found it slow going.

Debbie, 1970, UK

[bookgeek607 · Rating 4 out of 5]

In all honesty the book peaked my interest not only for the paranormal aspect, but because Vampires and Mermaids together left me curious on how it would work. The final verdict is they work very well together. I have read previous books by Amy McNulty and she does not disappoint with what is brought to the pages. I mean for real she gives us a dapper Vampire named Dean and a sullen teenage Mermaid named Calder. Both princes on opposite sides of a war. When nerdy Ember and popular Ivy become stepsisters. Little did they know there would be more conflict than who got the bathroom first. As both Dean and Calder vie for the attention of both girls to find which one would be their champion and end the other race completely, the girls get sucked into a world bigger than they ever imagined. Where make believe stories were in fact their reality, Fairies were the judges, and life altering decisions are around every corner. I can not wait to sink my teeth into book two and swim away in a world turned upside down!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the storyline and I thought the paranormals were a cool & different take. Merpeople and Vampires in this book was a nice touch that I haven't ever seen before. I felt like there should have been more explaining as to the whole idea of accepting the call of champion. I would have LOVED Calder's character if I didn't feel like he was such a weak, pathetic, scared person. It really took away from him. He could have been fairly submissive or quiet without being cowardly. And truthfully the vampires were stuck in the old days? IDK it seems a bit farfetched especially the wearing of suits constantly. Maybe a few here or there but not all. Why wouldn't they conform to fit in? Especially when going to highschool? I loved the sunglasses and contacts aspect that was fun. Ember just basically transforms without any explanation of why or how it happened.

I was gifted an ARC in return of an honest review.

[Jennia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surpassed all of my expectations, and I'm not usually too keen on books revolving around mermaids (probably because they're usually cheesy). I was invested from the first sentence and abandoned my half read library book in order to finish this book and am already looking forward to the next in the series.
The characters are realistically written with dialogue that comes across as a conversation someone would actually have. Also, all of the relationships feel natural, and I appreciate that the parents are involved and not conveniently gone for most of the book. The main teen characters are clever without being overly so (like discussing Proust over coffee in some uber hip café that would rarely exist in the real world). The action may feel a little slow to pick up, but enough occurs before hand to keep the reader interested.

[Becky Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I read a lot of paranormal romances and I found this to be a breath of fresh air. It is completely original and unpredictable. I loved our MC's and loved that it is in alternating points of view. Since both of the MC's are female it did get confusing sometimes with the smaller details, like who was told what, but overall very easy to follow. I loved this author's writing style and I found everything to be very purposeful. I'm not sure I would write this book any other way. I did find that one of the relationships worked for me and the other didn't. I'm not sure if that was the author's intention or my personal opinion, but I will definitely find that out in book two. Overall, such a great first book to a series and I am definitely, hands down #TeamMerpeople!

*This book was sent to me for free for a blog tour in exchange for an honest review*

[Ginnifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this arc for an honest review!!


OMG I don't even know where to start!!! This book was utterly fantastical!! I have never read anything by this author but after reading this gem i will be on the hunt for more!! Two stepsisters a vampire and a merman sounds amazing right?? Well it is....Amy has woven a tale with complexity, fantasy and enough intrigue to keep you wondering what the girls are going to do.....if your looking for your next amazing fantasy read look no further then this book right here!! Only downside i need the next book now...so I guess I will just sit here patiently impatiently waiting for it

[Caroline Doig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my 1st read and review for this author and it’s such a fantastic read I really enjoyed it, this is a great start to a new series and I can’t wait to read more from this author. There are so many different paranormal creatures in this book and I loved all of the different types. There’s twists and turns, humour, action, adventure and so much more to keep you entertained and turning the pages. A great original storyline with so many great characters I really enjoyed reading this book and I know that you will too especially if your a lover of paranormal romances. A 5 plus ⭐️ read and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rather funny story and take on vampires, mermen, and step families. I liked the mix of teen high school drama and the paranormal as it made me laugh and kept me entertained through the whole story. I also liked that I never quite knew what was going to happen next. Liked that the girls had a better grasp of teen angst then the boys who were both odd in their own ways. All sets of families were also a hoot. I read it all in one sitting as it was just a fun story that I really enjoyed reading and cannot wait to see what happens next.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great idea for a story, with intriguing likeable characters. Vampires, merpeople and the ongoing war was a new concept for me and I was looking forward to reading it.

The story started out well enough. Adjusting to a new family and the introduction to the supernatural world.

Then the story became a little hard to follow. It needed more explanation of the war between the species and why they needed two champions to fight for them. Why these girls and what it was they were expected to do.

It just contained too little information for me to enjoy.

[Katherine Decker · Rating 5 out of 5]

High school is tough for any girl. Getting a step sister in senior year and trying to figure out boys is even harder. Discovering there are vampires and merefolk families are real and at war, harder still not to mention strange. Being chosen has champions for the princes of the families, confusing. Ember and Ivy find themselves is this exact situation. How will they react? How will they hide the truth? I could not put this down. Absolutely amazing start to an intriguing series. Where will the war go next?

[Geo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thank the author for sending me a free copy for an honest review. This was certainly an original storyline for a book that included both vampires and merfolk. I have to say that this story kept me on my toes during the whole read. I expected none of it and was delighted by the author's creativity with it. I will acknowledge that I didn't really like Ember all that much and found Ivy to be my favorite. I look forward to the next book and seeing how all of it unfolds.

[Jennifer Rupp · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had a blast reading this YA Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance. Two warring princes, one a vampire, the other a merman (both incredibly handsome of course), enlist (coerce) the help of two high school stepsisters to champion them in their centuries old conflict. Well written, loads of humor and tension, addresses the difficulties (and benefits) of blended families, and has a very satisfying conclusion. I’ll look for the next in the Blood, Bloom and Water series!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I started reading Fangs and Fins I thought I knew the world that I would entering. Boy, was I wrong is the best way. Ember and Ivy are amazing characters that I want to know more about and their paths are just starting in this first book of the series. Amy McNulty did an amazing job with the world of this series with character development along with twists and turns that kept me turning the pages and looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Macy Klingerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a fan of Amy’s Never Veil series, and that love has carried over to this new world. Fangs & Fins is a well written, highly entertaining book with characters that you’ll want to be BFFs with in real life. This book touches on family, friendship, love, and so many other things. I highly recommend you pick up a copy ASAP!

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merman and vampire both need a mate. Two families join and they try to get along with each other. Who will they choose? Will they make a bond? How is it all going to work? Who will come out on top? A great read
I received an advanced copy and I enjoyed it so much that I want to review

[S.K. Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some interesting ideas in this book, but I felt that there was so much going on and so many characters that it was hard to keep track of it all. It was a little slow in the beginning too. I would read other books by the author, but this one wasn't for me.

[Georgia Tumbleweed McNabb · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would have been Sooo much better with a good narrator, but with this one you couldn't tell when a different chwas speaking because it was all the same voice like someone just reading out loud. Very Disheartening

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. A totally different style to keep you interested until the end. Easy reading.

[Jerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a very good read that kept one guessing what was going to happen next. I found it had it's share of surprises and look very forward to reading more from this author.

[Heather Rizkallah · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG

Ember and Ivy have become step sisters. Butt when they both are chosen to be champions for opposite being things at home get a little crazy. Which side will win?

[Colette Caron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Good