Breathe

Undine #2

by Penni Russon

Six months have passed since Undine discovered the powerful magic within her and very nearly threw the entire world into chaos. Life has gone back to normal—almost. The magic still swirls relentlessly below her surface, demanding that she break her promise not to use it. And then there's Trout. Trout, with his messy, unrequited love for Undine. Trout, who can't sleep and who roams the streets at night instead. Trout, so desperate to learn about Undine's magic that he's willing to trust a mysterious young woman who knows an awful lot about him, about Undine, and about chaos theory. As their lives continue to both unravel and coalesce, Undine and Trout feel drawn back to the Bay, where it all began. Is Undine stronger than the magic she contains? Is she more girl than magic, or more magic than girl?

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal, Supernatural, Teen, Romance, Science Fiction

368 pages, Hardcover

First published October 5, 2005

Reviews

[Maci D · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars. This is such a strange little trilogy but also so simple at the same time. There is something about it that keeps me interested despite it being more mellow in pace.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as 'Undine.' Also got to know Trout a little bit more and delve into his past and his family life a little bit more. Though I did wish that we heard a little bit more about Undine. Also got to know a LOT more about a semi-new character, Max (or Maxine Madden). Got to know how she learned about magic and her past. She tied into the story quite well. All together a great story with a very dramatic ending. I can't wait to read the next book!

[Melpomene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! Dreamy and poetic, breathless and intoxicating. Penni delves further into the magic and the sea and the chaos there and in the characters' hearts. Brilliant sequel that has me gasping for more.

[Clifford Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very quick read. Better structured than book 1. More enjoyable. The plot thickens.

[Chrystal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didnt like this one. Found it more confusing then the first. Hopefully book 3 brings answers and conclusion

[Ami · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than the first one, especially exploring the effects of the last book on Trout. Also interesting to learn a bit more about Prospero and Lou.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't quite as hooked by the sequel as I was by Undine, but I still loved Russon's style and sense of characters. The trouble is, when I wrote the title on my list of finished books, I commented that "the end totally caught me off guard." But now, two weeks later, I can't remember how it ended. This is probably more a sign of how easily I forget book plots than of the quality of the book...still, I'll keeping reading Russon. I just peeked at a description of the third book, Drift, on her website (it doesn't seem to have been published in the US yet) and it jogged my memory about the ending - it was unexpected and bittersweet, and I'm curious to see how the third one wraps things up.

[Xiao Ying · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think that it getting a bit confusing in this book, since like three months have passed. She have also make up with Lou and Mim. She also make a vow to her father that she would not ever use the power again and also would control her emotions to the best of her ability.Undine felt uneasy now that Trout is kind of like trying to avoid her. Before Trout would always stay near her and would always wait for her in the morning. Its like he is hiding from her. Undine doesn't know why but she felt kind of uneasiness, now that Trout is not waiting for her every morning and now that is trying to constantly trying to avoid her. He started to hang out with her again when he found out that she moving(leaving on a vacation or trip). Now that they are apart, will they meet again?

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Undine starts to experiment with her new found powers and learns their hidden secrets. She suddenly has overwhelming power at her finger tips and she has to choose how to use them. The sea is calling her and she has to choose to remain with her family or go back to where she really belongs to discover her true power. I loved this book it captured my attention from the first page and kept it through out the book.

[Arthur · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story sweeps up crumbs from the first book. I suspected this to be long and without direction, but it keeps up as energetic and exciting as we learn a lot more about this magic Undine discovered. A lot matures in Trout and his life without Undine becomes as chaos does as love is without the magic. Undine surprisingly does a better job in life know knowing where she belongs. The magic fits in her life. She fits in. Prospero fits in as he promises. Lou fits in as Undine keeps her promises.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I really wasn't blown away with this sequel. At all. I just wanted to finish it because I was mildly interested in the story. It took me way too long to finish it, and usually, if I love a book, it's finished with in days. I got aggravated with the characters, and how the writing style flip-flopped. It was annoying and sometimes confusing. I'm still interested in finding out how everything turns out in the third one, but I'm not dying to read it.

2.5 stars. :/

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sequel to Undine. Undine tries to deal with the powerful magic found inside herself.

Russon's bracing, poetic voice and earthy, likable characters ground the story's esoteric symbolism, and many readers will find their own fear and love reflected in the beautiful, open-ended metaphors. (Gillian Engberg, Booklist)

[Allie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was.. very confusing. I'm pretty sure you need to read this right after the first one.. if you're lucky enough to even understand the first. I've got a lot a questions still, but I'm just happy to finish it. It's a good book to read if you're having troubles understanding.. philosophy things.

[Ailene · Rating 1 out of 5]

i didn't like this book at all. the characters were all off! probably because i didn't read the first book, but this book should have at least covered enough of what happened in the first book and me reading through this book should have at least given me a vision of what the first book was about. i didn't care for this...i can't believe i read through it XP

[Diana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not happy with how it ended... Possible Spoilers Ahead! Is Undine dead? I don't know for sure. She shouldn't be. Grunt needed a bigger role in this book (as Undine's love interest thankyouverymuch), and Trout and Max should get through their differences and *be* *together* already! Mebbe there's a 3rd book I am as of yet unaware...

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was so excited when I learned that there was a sequel to Undine, so maybe it was thanks to my astronomical expectations and inflated sense of how AMAZING Undine was, I felt Breathe was a little disappointing and difficult to follow. Not a bad story, just ... not as eerie, ethereal, and good as Undine was.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Perhaps I would have liked it better if I had read the first book in the series before this one. I kept waiting for the characters to really do something, for there to be some kind of culmination. I guess I should've realized that this is intended to be the second in a series. It is kind of long for the story that it tells.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one as much if not more than the first one. Her story and development of it is really interesting. I am glad she didn't rush through or try to change her pattern of writing or the storyline.

[Z · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fascinating concept. Read this directly after the first one (Undine). And good luck understanding it. I still have a lot of questions. It made sense for most of the book, and then all of the sudden I had no idea what was going on.

[Esther · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED IT!! it's really hard to tell if the ending happy or sad... and by that i mean the epiloge... it was sooooo sad and made my gut twist, but it was, i think it was supposed to be, happy.. i dono i guess im just sad that it's over...

[Karthi · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book itself was good. But if you relate it to the first book undine i don't really get the point of it. I mean yes it is more about undines magic and all but in all i think the plot should have been way different.

[Chanelle]

This is the sequal to Undine. In this story Undine struggles with her powers. Trout tries to inderstand the powers. He never sleeps. He then trusts a girl he should not have. He also betrays Undine.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not sure I really buy the transformation of Trout in this one or what happens to Undine at the end either for that matter. Not nearly as good as the first book in the series. I'll read the final book in the series just to see how it ends, but this is not something I will ever pick up again.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book - brings out a lot of questions as far as alternate planes of existence, natural magic and chaos. However, it seems that Book 3 is out of print and I am a bit unnerved by that! I would love to know how this trilogy ties up! But seems like I may never find out. :(

[Booklover · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't as hooked to this one. Undine on the other hand was really good!!! the story itself lost a bit of "flair", but nonetheless I still enjoyed it. can't wait to see how it ends with the third book :)

[Teddy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I don't know if I'm just not in reading mode right now, but I have gotten 1/3 of the way through this book and I still have to force myself to sit down and read it. I might try this one another time, but for right now it just isn't holding my interest.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my review of Undine: great, great, great. I really enjoyed it. I still have to read "DRIFT" the last book in the series.

[Zunpip · Rating 4 out of 5]

love the magic and greece part!

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, but the first one was definitely better. Still wish my local bookstores would carry these books…but noooo…

[Geena · Rating 1 out of 5]

worse worse worse worse worse the writer should stop trying