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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I liked the sequel better than the original. Less sulking, less bratty behavior. Lots more action and better pacing, finally some explanations.
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one of those books that I desperately wanted to like. The synopsis sounded promising, the cover was gorgeous, and reviewers (for the most part) had nothing but positive things to say. Furthermore, whenever I think of mermaids I reminisce about my childhood and that gives me the warmest feeling inside. So yes, I did have extremely high hopes for this one.
Theory:
If the offspring of Ariel and Prince Eric had children, and their lives were turned into a daytime soap opera, then I’m pretty sure the results would be this book.
I didn’t like:
➜ Nalia
Emma’s mother and the lost Poseidon princess, was – for lack of better words – bat sh*t crazy! She came off as mean, thuggish, and a bit unrealistic. It was hard to connect with her because she was unemotional and reserved to the point of coldness. Natalia waved her gun around so much that I wanted to pluck her from the novel and place her in the Wild West.
➜ (POV)
As with the first book in the series, the abrupt shift from first person narrative to third person recollection made for very choppy reading. It was hard to connect with characters when I couldn’t even find comfort in the narrative structure. I know that this was done intentionally but as a reader it doesn’t work for me. I like my consistency, thank you very much.
➜ (Shallow relationships)
Everyone in this book claimed to love each other but, honestly, the bond between them was as shallow as a kiddie pool. Galen was quick to distrust his best friend, Toraf. Nalia didn't believe her daughter when she said that Grom was still alive which in turn made Emma question Galen’s trustworthiness. It was just too much to swallow at times.
Theory:
If the offspring of Ariel and Prince Eric had children, and their lives were turned into a daytime soap opera, then I’m pretty sure the results would be this book.
I didn’t like:
➜ Nalia
Emma’s mother and the lost Poseidon princess, was – for lack of better words – bat sh*t crazy! She came off as mean, thuggish, and a bit unrealistic. It was hard to connect with her because she was unemotional and reserved to the point of coldness. Natalia waved her gun around so much that I wanted to pluck her from the novel and place her in the Wild West.
➜ (POV)
As with the first book in the series, the abrupt shift from first person narrative to third person recollection made for very choppy reading. It was hard to connect with characters when I couldn’t even find comfort in the narrative structure. I know that this was done intentionally but as a reader it doesn’t work for me. I like my consistency, thank you very much.
➜ (Shallow relationships)
Everyone in this book claimed to love each other but, honestly, the bond between them was as shallow as a kiddie pool. Galen was quick to distrust his best friend, Toraf. Nalia didn't believe her daughter when she said that Grom was still alive which in turn made Emma question Galen’s trustworthiness. It was just too much to swallow at times.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
After being surprised by Of Poseidon, fluffiness and cheesy moments aside, I had high expectations for Of Triton, unfortunately, I was disappointed. I'll start by saying that there was plenty of drama and twists and turns to make it exciting but my main problem was how jam packed the book was. It was way shorter than Of Poseidon and really should have been around the same length- probably even longer. There are many things that happened in this story, but each little burst of excitement was over and done with within a few chapters. A lot of the time I found myself going "huh?" because things progressed so quickly and were just not properly explained.
For example: Rayna losing her voice and Galen's fin issues. It was supposed to be mysterious, but it had been mentioned like never in the entire book and suddenly Rayna is being taken to Florida to see a Dr. The way it was written made it seem like it had been a big issue from the beginning but it just popped up out of nowhere: like hey this is a good idea, let me just add it right where I'm at in the story even though it doesn't make sense. What? I hope it wasn't just me that got confused over this.
I think Anna Banks had so many ideas for this sequel that she failed to properly execute them and allow them to build. I didn't really have time to appreciate and comprehend what was going on before we were moving on to the next crazy thing. I think a lot of parts were a lot more juvenile than they could have been, and the bits of romance were put in awkward places.
I don't really know who edited this and gave the okay to publish either, because I found a few spelling errors/typos in my version- and I honestly don't know how this went to print without being revised. Banks needed to slow down on this one and take a breather, she's not an auctioneer, no need to spill all her guts in one fell swoop.
Although now I'm apprehensive about #3, I'm hoping that Of Neptune will do a better job of pulling the storyline together and leaving the cheesy, poor executed ideas at home.
For example: Rayna losing her voice and Galen's fin issues. It was supposed to be mysterious, but it had been mentioned like never in the entire book and suddenly Rayna is being taken to Florida to see a Dr. The way it was written made it seem like it had been a big issue from the beginning but it just popped up out of nowhere: like hey this is a good idea, let me just add it right where I'm at in the story even though it doesn't make sense. What? I hope it wasn't just me that got confused over this.
I think Anna Banks had so many ideas for this sequel that she failed to properly execute them and allow them to build. I didn't really have time to appreciate and comprehend what was going on before we were moving on to the next crazy thing. I think a lot of parts were a lot more juvenile than they could have been, and the bits of romance were put in awkward places.
I don't really know who edited this and gave the okay to publish either, because I found a few spelling errors/typos in my version- and I honestly don't know how this went to print without being revised. Banks needed to slow down on this one and take a breather, she's not an auctioneer, no need to spill all her guts in one fell swoop.
Although now I'm apprehensive about #3, I'm hoping that Of Neptune will do a better job of pulling the storyline together and leaving the cheesy, poor executed ideas at home.
4.25 stars
(So my rating up there miiiight be a wee bit biased. But this is the more accurate one.)
*slight spoilers
Well, well, after a year of waiting after the drastic events of Of Poseidon, we finally get to Of Triton.
And I'm actually kind of disappointed.
This book is waaaay short. (Terrible grammar use right there.) I'm not kidding, I sat down and what felt like 15 minutes to me (or really half and hour to 45 minutes ish) and I was halfway through. LIKE I NEED MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE.
I remember reading Of Poseidon and remember how it felt that it was a beautifully long story, one not to stretched out but a beautiful wonderful length of a book for a reader to enjoy.
Of Triton is just simply too short, and this is probably due to the result of the lack of expansion in certain points of the plot that could've been stretched out a little bit just to up the stakes a little.
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the plot and pretty much nothing wrong with the novel- but I don't think the novel was at it's full potential. I would've loved to see more traitorous acts, more tyranny, more of Emma throwing sharks in people's face (OMG THAT MOMENT WAS BEAUTIFUL. JUST BEAUTIFUL.) I think if Anna Banks took a little more time (which honestly, I know everyone complains about novels not being out sooner, but we're ok with it if it means it's going to be awesome) and just rewrote it out a little longer, it would've been way more exciting and tense. (although I was screaming bloody murder at Jagen and Paca the whole time.)
Also. I feel like we missed a chance of charger development also. Emma ended up accepting the fact Nalia and Grom will be together rather easily in the end, despite her initial reluctant acceptance. I also would've loved to see more between her and Nalia.
And Galen. GOD I WANT MORE OF HIM.
But otherwise than that, the plot is gripping, tantalizing, and just a whole heck of fun fun fun. I really enjoyed this novel, and really, the only reason why I'm disappointed is that it is SO SHORT. SO SO SO TOO SHORT. (Can you blame me for wanting more after waiting for a year?)
Overall, an enchanting and tantalizing novel, and with a rather clean ending that makes me wonder what the third book will be about.
***********
Update: the cover is so.. Different from the first one.
It would be really nice if someone handed me this book right now...
Just saying :)
(So my rating up there miiiight be a wee bit biased. But this is the more accurate one.)
*slight spoilers
Well, well, after a year of waiting after the drastic events of Of Poseidon, we finally get to Of Triton.
And I'm actually kind of disappointed.
This book is waaaay short. (Terrible grammar use right there.) I'm not kidding, I sat down and what felt like 15 minutes to me (or really half and hour to 45 minutes ish) and I was halfway through. LIKE I NEED MORE MORE MORE MORE MORE.
I remember reading Of Poseidon and remember how it felt that it was a beautifully long story, one not to stretched out but a beautiful wonderful length of a book for a reader to enjoy.
Of Triton is just simply too short, and this is probably due to the result of the lack of expansion in certain points of the plot that could've been stretched out a little bit just to up the stakes a little.
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the plot and pretty much nothing wrong with the novel- but I don't think the novel was at it's full potential. I would've loved to see more traitorous acts, more tyranny, more of Emma throwing sharks in people's face (OMG THAT MOMENT WAS BEAUTIFUL. JUST BEAUTIFUL.) I think if Anna Banks took a little more time (which honestly, I know everyone complains about novels not being out sooner, but we're ok with it if it means it's going to be awesome) and just rewrote it out a little longer, it would've been way more exciting and tense. (although I was screaming bloody murder at Jagen and Paca the whole time.)
Also. I feel like we missed a chance of charger development also. Emma ended up accepting the fact Nalia and Grom will be together rather easily in the end, despite her initial reluctant acceptance. I also would've loved to see more between her and Nalia.
And Galen. GOD I WANT MORE OF HIM.
Spoiler
I totally guess that his speed was part of Triton's gift though. I knew he was goi to have it. But Rayna TOTALLY surprised me.But otherwise than that, the plot is gripping, tantalizing, and just a whole heck of fun fun fun. I really enjoyed this novel, and really, the only reason why I'm disappointed is that it is SO SHORT. SO SO SO TOO SHORT. (Can you blame me for wanting more after waiting for a year?)
Overall, an enchanting and tantalizing novel, and with a rather clean ending that makes me wonder what the third book will be about.
***********
Update: the cover is so.. Different from the first one.
It would be really nice if someone handed me this book right now...
Just saying :)
Holding a grudge is like swallowing poison and hoping the other person dies
Of Triton deserves a different kind of 3 stars than Of Poseidon. On the one hand, the misogyny is toned down as is Galen’s temper, both of these which were the main problem I had with book one. On the other hand though, all the laughs I got from Of Poseidon were gone. I suppose this is typical though of a second book where the tone sombers down (I made that phrase up on the spot) and the characters are out of the “honeymoon period” doing some serious soul searching about the future. My biggest complaint though is that the main conflict in this book is basically useless. To explain it would take a ton of spoilers, but suffice, this book seems kind of like a detour and that the real problem is only rehashed at the end of the novel.
That being said, I didn’t not enjoy (sorry double negative) the story and it definitely flew by for me. Really, I went through this book in what felt like no time; that is I can’t recall ever reading for a long time. But of course this is absurd because it was also eight audiobook sections in length, the same as Of Poseidon. What’s more, I can tell that a ton happened in the book which I suppose is a testament to how fast the pacing of this book went. There’s no down time for any of the characters.
As for the development of characters, it was nice to see Galen trust Emma more but I really would have liked to see more tension as a result of Nalia suddenly being in the picture. Nalia injects a ton of doubt into Emma about the Syrena world (Galen included) but I felt that Emma conviction in what Nalia comes across as half-assed because all of her worries are cleared up as soon as her mother mentions them. I would have liked it more if her doubt was drawn out a bit so that I would be screaming for things to work out when they finally did. The way the resolution of Emma’s doubt was carried out made it seem like a minor inconvenience when there was so much potential for it to be dragged out and at the end make everyone bond more strongly with each other.
Moving on to the fact that the bulk of the book, well the not Emma part, was focused on a tribunal in the Syrena world that was started to figure out the identity of Emma’s mother but ended up as basically this clash between monarchy (poseidon and triton royals alike *gasp* they’re working together!) and faux democracy (spearheaded Jagen and Paca) and I’m sure you can guess who “wins” in the end. Again, while I felt like the conflict was unnecessary, I did like how I was simultaneously excited and frustrated by the tribunal. I felt really into the tribue as if I had a personal stake and when the tide started to turn in a way I didn’t like it, I actually felt anxious and restless; seriously that’s how much I was drawn into the story.
The storyline following Emma though is about how she gets from land to the tribunal. One question, when did she learn how to hold her breath like forever? I feel like she only got to an hour or so in of Poseidon and now suddenly she can spend hours underwater? Someone tell me if I missed a development somewhere but I’m pretty sure she couldn’t hold her breath that long before.
The tribunal also was a stage for a bunch of very interesting revelations; the biggest arguably the revelation of the power of Poseidon.
and I didn’t remember till the book was nearly over that mermaids have fins in place of feet… not on their back. I didn’t guess that Rayna was part of it though and honestly when she does that first scream, it was my most favorite moment of her.. Still the awesome entrance that Emma makes where she’s in full sass mode all like “Oh don’t mind the shark behind me because I’m sure Paca would never let anyone get hurt” had me internally jumping up and down and screaming suck it to Jagen and Company.
After the tribunal is concluded though, the rest of the book then really felt pointless which is kind of ironic because it’s actually the part that pertains to the real issue: how the Syrena have to adapt to a changing world and how to deal with humans. The book ends in the way a second book should, like it could end here but you know there’s more. I’m interested, maybe not jumping out of my seat excited, in seeing how the series will conclude and if everyone will find resolution.
Of Triton deserves a different kind of 3 stars than Of Poseidon. On the one hand, the misogyny is toned down as is Galen’s temper, both of these which were the main problem I had with book one. On the other hand though, all the laughs I got from Of Poseidon were gone. I suppose this is typical though of a second book where the tone sombers down (I made that phrase up on the spot) and the characters are out of the “honeymoon period” doing some serious soul searching about the future. My biggest complaint though is that the main conflict in this book is basically useless. To explain it would take a ton of spoilers, but suffice, this book seems kind of like a detour and that the real problem is only rehashed at the end of the novel.
That being said, I didn’t not enjoy (sorry double negative) the story and it definitely flew by for me. Really, I went through this book in what felt like no time; that is I can’t recall ever reading for a long time. But of course this is absurd because it was also eight audiobook sections in length, the same as Of Poseidon. What’s more, I can tell that a ton happened in the book which I suppose is a testament to how fast the pacing of this book went. There’s no down time for any of the characters.
As for the development of characters, it was nice to see Galen trust Emma more but I really would have liked to see more tension as a result of Nalia suddenly being in the picture. Nalia injects a ton of doubt into Emma about the Syrena world (Galen included) but I felt that Emma conviction in what Nalia comes across as half-assed because all of her worries are cleared up as soon as her mother mentions them. I would have liked it more if her doubt was drawn out a bit so that I would be screaming for things to work out when they finally did. The way the resolution of Emma’s doubt was carried out made it seem like a minor inconvenience when there was so much potential for it to be dragged out and at the end make everyone bond more strongly with each other.
Moving on to the fact that the bulk of the book, well the not Emma part, was focused on a tribunal in the Syrena world that was started to figure out the identity of Emma’s mother but ended up as basically this clash between monarchy (poseidon and triton royals alike *gasp* they’re working together!) and faux democracy (spearheaded Jagen and Paca) and I’m sure you can guess who “wins” in the end. Again, while I felt like the conflict was unnecessary, I did like how I was simultaneously excited and frustrated by the tribunal. I felt really into the tribue as if I had a personal stake and when the tide started to turn in a way I didn’t like it, I actually felt anxious and restless; seriously that’s how much I was drawn into the story.
The storyline following Emma though is about how she gets from land to the tribunal. One question, when did she learn how to hold her breath like forever? I feel like she only got to an hour or so in of Poseidon and now suddenly she can spend hours underwater? Someone tell me if I missed a development somewhere but I’m pretty sure she couldn’t hold her breath that long before.
The tribunal also was a stage for a bunch of very interesting revelations; the biggest arguably the revelation of the power of Poseidon.
Spoiler
I guessed that Galen had something to do with it especially with the whole ginormous fin thing, which, sidenote, I couldn’t visualise for the longest time… The way he and Toraf were describing his fin made it sound like it was on his back? and I kept visualizing a mahi mahi esque fin but in red for some reason and I didn’t remember till the book was nearly over that mermaids have fins in place of feet… not on their back. I didn’t guess that Rayna was part of it though and honestly when she does that first scream, it was my most favorite moment of her.
After the tribunal is concluded though, the rest of the book then really felt pointless which is kind of ironic because it’s actually the part that pertains to the real issue: how the Syrena have to adapt to a changing world and how to deal with humans.
Spoiler
Also, I feel like Anna Banks has a thing for killing off characters… seriously did Rachel really need to die. I guess it can be symbolic and shit for her releasing Galen and Rayna and Toraf and that they have turned into independent people (fishes) now. But I really liked her :( and it was sad.
meh. this one was just okay (its really a 2 1/2 stars)
so, I think I finally know what my issue is with this series.
It's the cover
No, don't get me wrong - I LOVE THE COVER! but I think the cover makes me think of a more mature YA book. And I think the writing and the characters are pretty shallow. There's slang and silly wording and even Emma thinks she immature.
and I think think even Emma is more mature than her mom.
and her mom and her weird temper. I know it's supposed to be part of the Syrena thing but, honestly, it's annoying...
but the twists were interesting, I did like the reveal and I'm pretty okay with how this turned out. The last 1/3 was MUCH better than the whole other 2/3 of the book.
so, I think I finally know what my issue is with this series.
It's the cover
No, don't get me wrong - I LOVE THE COVER! but I think the cover makes me think of a more mature YA book. And I think the writing and the characters are pretty shallow. There's slang and silly wording and even Emma thinks she immature.
and I think think even Emma is more mature than her mom.
and her mom and her weird temper. I know it's supposed to be part of the Syrena thing but, honestly, it's annoying...
but the twists were interesting, I did like the reveal and I'm pretty okay with how this turned out. The last 1/3 was MUCH better than the whole other 2/3 of the book.