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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
Reviewed on Reader's Dialogue: http://readersdialogue.blogspot.com
This is a case where you can judge a book by its cover - it matches the cool, misty atmosphere of the whole book!
Lena is a normal girl living in her beach-side town - except that her father won't let her learn how to surf. And then she starts sleepwalking and finding herself on the beach, and she keeps reaching for something that isn't there. And then, on one of her solitary works along the beach, she sees a mermaid far off in the sea. Determined to see her again, Lena takes surfing lessons from her boyfriend's sister and goes surfing alone on the waves where she saw the mermaid - the most dangerous beach. There, the mermaid gives her a key, for which Lena sets about finding a lock. She finds out startling information about her supposed-dead mother, information that her father had kept from her all these years, and she goes to meet her mermaid mother when she calls for her. She joins her under the sea in the mer-village, but eventually has to make the choice between her land family and her sea family.
As I said, I love the atmosphere in the book. Fitting for a sea-side - and in-sea - setting, the feeling of mist in the air followed me throughout the story, adding to the mystical quality of the events. The tone is just so great. Especially the parts about Lena losing her memories - it happens so gradually, interwoven with the other events, that it feels real and natural.
And the characters in The Mermaid's Mirror are so real! Early on, I noticed that Kai has a distinctive voice and I could tell when he was speaking (or texting) without reading the dialogue tags. Although his is the most obvious, every character's personality is unique and fully developed, and I was able to feel along with them (or dislike them, in Max's case) the whole time.
The one complaint I have about this book is about the resolution of the problem. It seems to me that the main problem of the story, the one which everything else built up to and which seems to be the theme of the story, is solved very quickly without much explanation. It's a hard choice she has to make - stay with the mother she's been missing for so long or return to her father, stepmother, and little brother who are grieving so terribly - and I felt we should have seen her thought process more clearly.
Still, this is a book I think I'll return to, because even though I find it lacking in that way, I love the style and characters of the story!
Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy for review!
This is a case where you can judge a book by its cover - it matches the cool, misty atmosphere of the whole book!
Lena is a normal girl living in her beach-side town - except that her father won't let her learn how to surf. And then she starts sleepwalking and finding herself on the beach, and she keeps reaching for something that isn't there. And then, on one of her solitary works along the beach, she sees a mermaid far off in the sea. Determined to see her again, Lena takes surfing lessons from her boyfriend's sister and goes surfing alone on the waves where she saw the mermaid - the most dangerous beach. There, the mermaid gives her a key, for which Lena sets about finding a lock. She finds out startling information about her supposed-dead mother, information that her father had kept from her all these years, and she goes to meet her mermaid mother when she calls for her. She joins her under the sea in the mer-village, but eventually has to make the choice between her land family and her sea family.
As I said, I love the atmosphere in the book. Fitting for a sea-side - and in-sea - setting, the feeling of mist in the air followed me throughout the story, adding to the mystical quality of the events. The tone is just so great. Especially the parts about Lena losing her memories - it happens so gradually, interwoven with the other events, that it feels real and natural.
And the characters in The Mermaid's Mirror are so real! Early on, I noticed that Kai has a distinctive voice and I could tell when he was speaking (or texting) without reading the dialogue tags. Although his is the most obvious, every character's personality is unique and fully developed, and I was able to feel along with them (or dislike them, in Max's case) the whole time.
The one complaint I have about this book is about the resolution of the problem. It seems to me that the main problem of the story, the one which everything else built up to and which seems to be the theme of the story, is solved very quickly without much explanation. It's a hard choice she has to make - stay with the mother she's been missing for so long or return to her father, stepmother, and little brother who are grieving so terribly - and I felt we should have seen her thought process more clearly.
Still, this is a book I think I'll return to, because even though I find it lacking in that way, I love the style and characters of the story!
Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy for review!
I really enjoyed the author's writing in this novel. The book can be divided into two parts: life with her father on the land and life with her mother in the sea. Lena has spent her life with her father, step-mother and younger brother living in a beautiful home near the ocean. While most of her friends love surfing, she has been reluctant to try because her father had some sort of accident. As it turns out the "accident" was not a surfing accident at all but a run-in with Lena's mother's family who just happen to be mermaids. I have to admit that I enjoyed the section of the novel where Lena remains on land a lot better than the section where she is under the ocean with her mermaid mother and her extended family. I thought that the mermaid part of the novel would have been a little more in depth that it was. I feel that Madigan could have made it a much more magical land than it was. I also found it hard to form a connection as a reader to Lena's maternal family. I felt a stronger connection with her paternal family because I felt that they were more empathetic and also more well-rounded characters. I wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending either. I feel that the author may have left the book open to a sequel which would make the ending alright but if there is no sequel I feel there is still a lot more that I want to know. Overall though, I really enjoyed reading this novel. It was creative and I always wanted to know more about what was happening. I give this book 3.5 stars out of 5.
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
This book was decent. I liked it more when these type of books were what I was into, but now that I'm into a different type of genre, it doesn't exactly interest me anymore.
It was well written, however, and I would recommend it to people who are interested in mermaids and fantasy.
It was well written, however, and I would recommend it to people who are interested in mermaids and fantasy.
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This story was AMAZING and beautifully heartbreaking. This was one that stuck with me a couple of days after I finished. Madigan does a really wonderful job building this world and developing the characters. The last couple of books that I read I was disappointed in so when I finished this I had a feeling of happiness and had a moment of wanting to thank the author for this book. I read this through netgalley.com so I only have it for a short time. When it officially comes out I will be buying a copy as soon as I can.
All of the characters pull you in. They are all strongly developed and likeable. I got so pulled into the characters and the plot that when it ended and Lena made her ultimate decision I wanted to cry. It was one of those that can give you satisfaction and yet also make you feel like there has to be more that it can’t end that way, not all the characters get a happy ending.
I am crossing my fingers for another book. Lena learns more about her mother and it is that part of the story that makes me want another book.
All of the characters pull you in. They are all strongly developed and likeable. I got so pulled into the characters and the plot that when it ended and Lena made her ultimate decision I wanted to cry. It was one of those that can give you satisfaction and yet also make you feel like there has to be more that it can’t end that way, not all the characters get a happy ending.
I am crossing my fingers for another book. Lena learns more about her mother and it is that part of the story that makes me want another book.
The Mermaid's Mirror by LK Madigan blends surfing with the legend of the selkie. Lena has the sea in her blood and for her sixteenth birthday she desperately wants to learn how to surf. Her father, refuses, having nearly drowned while surfing many years ago. Meanwhile, a mermaid watches from off shore.
A series of events that start with sleep walking, help Lena unravel some secrets of her past. She already knows her current mother is actually her step mother but they are so close, she has been content to call her Mom. Now though, something is out of whack in Lena's life. Part of it is the natural teenage rebellion. But there is something more pulling Lena away from her family.
Ultimately Lena learns the truth and has to make a decision. She can leave the family she's known all her life behind and take on a completely new life, or she stay with them with full knowledge of who and what she is.
Lena lives in Crescent Cove, near Magics. For anyone familiar with the Bay Area, it's a fictionalization of Half Moon Bay and Mavericks. For me, the fictionalization a distraction and detraction from an otherwise delightful retelling of the selkie tales. It seemed that the town's location and geography changed repeatedly through the book to fit the plot. There was nothing about The Mermaid's Mirror that couldn't have worked if set in Half Moon Bay and points nearby.
A series of events that start with sleep walking, help Lena unravel some secrets of her past. She already knows her current mother is actually her step mother but they are so close, she has been content to call her Mom. Now though, something is out of whack in Lena's life. Part of it is the natural teenage rebellion. But there is something more pulling Lena away from her family.
Ultimately Lena learns the truth and has to make a decision. She can leave the family she's known all her life behind and take on a completely new life, or she stay with them with full knowledge of who and what she is.
Lena lives in Crescent Cove, near Magics. For anyone familiar with the Bay Area, it's a fictionalization of Half Moon Bay and Mavericks. For me, the fictionalization a distraction and detraction from an otherwise delightful retelling of the selkie tales. It seemed that the town's location and geography changed repeatedly through the book to fit the plot. There was nothing about The Mermaid's Mirror that couldn't have worked if set in Half Moon Bay and points nearby.
I was so excited to read The Mermaid's Mirror. Unfortunately, it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
This started out quite slow. About the first hundred pages almost nothing happened. If picked up a little bit later on, but overall nothing really happens until the last 100 pages or so. When it finally did get to the mermaid part, though, I did enjoy it. But, I felt like that part was crammed into a short little section. No sooner had I started it, it was over. I could have spent a lot more time in the mermaid world, but as it was, it was short. (Sorry I'm being so vague; I"m trying not to give away too many spoilers.)
I did not like Lena at all. She was stupid, immature and a real snot to those she loved. It seemed like she was always whinning about something. She was also very self-centered. She did what she wanted and didn't care who she hurt in the proccess.
Overall, The Mermaid's Mirror was forgetable. there was nothing that really stood out. There were some parts that I did enjoy, but I felt short changed by the ending. Also, there was barely any romance in it, and I need me my romance :)
This started out quite slow. About the first hundred pages almost nothing happened. If picked up a little bit later on, but overall nothing really happens until the last 100 pages or so. When it finally did get to the mermaid part, though, I did enjoy it. But, I felt like that part was crammed into a short little section. No sooner had I started it, it was over. I could have spent a lot more time in the mermaid world, but as it was, it was short. (Sorry I'm being so vague; I"m trying not to give away too many spoilers.)
I did not like Lena at all. She was stupid, immature and a real snot to those she loved. It seemed like she was always whinning about something. She was also very self-centered. She did what she wanted and didn't care who she hurt in the proccess.
Overall, The Mermaid's Mirror was forgetable. there was nothing that really stood out. There were some parts that I did enjoy, but I felt short changed by the ending. Also, there was barely any romance in it, and I need me my romance :)
The story first introduces us to sixteen-year-old Lena who led a seemingly ordinary life with her events planner mother, former surfer dad and six-year-old brother Cole. We learn of her closeness with her family and wonderful relationship with her bestfriend Pem and bestfriend-turned-boyfriend Kai. We also learn of her desire to surf the waves of Diamond Bay, yet, even if her father was an excellent surfer, he would not let her. Not after he had that surfing accident years ago and he always look at the sea with trepidation and longing.
A longing which Lena shared.
She could not explain it. She loved the ocean so much that she spends her early morning walks at the beach always, always feeling like there was something missing. It was not only the fact that her real mother died long ago thus leaving her bereft of what it felt like to grow up with the one who gave her life but there was something, something she seemed to be always searching.
And then, the dreams started and she found herself waking up in the middle of the night at the beach without ever knowing how she got there. After a near-death experience involving a secret surf at Magic's and a key that was placed in her hand by the being that made her need to surf in that dangerous place in the first place - long-buried secrets, a fascinating world that half of her belonged to, true love and the search for her true identity was unleashed and Selena's life would never be the same again.
Reading the first few chapters, I though that it would be just another coming-of-age story that is similar to another book whose title misled me. This other book was Mermaid Park and I really thought it was a story about mermaids. There were mermaids there all right - mermaids in fish suits in an amusement park. So I was really, really wary of reading this. But then, the voices and a real, albeit in a fiction book, mermaid came into the picture and my wariness was washed away by the waves.
Full review at Whatever You Can Still Betray.
A longing which Lena shared.
She could not explain it. She loved the ocean so much that she spends her early morning walks at the beach always, always feeling like there was something missing. It was not only the fact that her real mother died long ago thus leaving her bereft of what it felt like to grow up with the one who gave her life but there was something, something she seemed to be always searching.
And then, the dreams started and she found herself waking up in the middle of the night at the beach without ever knowing how she got there. After a near-death experience involving a secret surf at Magic's and a key that was placed in her hand by the being that made her need to surf in that dangerous place in the first place - long-buried secrets, a fascinating world that half of her belonged to, true love and the search for her true identity was unleashed and Selena's life would never be the same again.
Reading the first few chapters, I though that it would be just another coming-of-age story that is similar to another book whose title misled me. This other book was Mermaid Park and I really thought it was a story about mermaids. There were mermaids there all right - mermaids in fish suits in an amusement park. So I was really, really wary of reading this. But then, the voices and a real, albeit in a fiction book, mermaid came into the picture and my wariness was washed away by the waves.
Full review at Whatever You Can Still Betray.