Mermaids
Standalone
Written by Kiera Cass
Fantasy, Romance, Mermaids
Published January 25th 2016
400 Pages
Thanks to Harper Collins Australia
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★★
Release the gowns.Years ago, Kahlen was rescued from drowning by the Ocean. To repay her debt, she has served as a Siren ever since, using her voice to lure countless strangers to their deaths. Though a single word from Kahlen can kill, she can’t resist spending her days on land, watching ordinary people and longing for the day when she will be able to speak and laugh and live freely among them again.
Kahlen is resigned to finishing her sentence in solitude... Until she meets Akinli. Handsome, caring, and kind, Akinli is everything Kahlen ever dreamed of.
Falling in love with a human breaks the Ocean’s rules. But for the first time in a lifetime of following the rules, Kahlen is determined to follow her heart.
The name Kiera Cass is synonymous with young adult, instant love, cliche storylines and of course ballgowns. Her Selection series covers are absolutely stunning and considering the predicament her protagonist America finds herself in, are well suited to the storyline and a great representation. Her novels are perfect for early teen readers who love a fairytale romance. The Siren on the other hand managed to weave underwater ballgowns into the storyline and although I enjoyed it sporadically despite my rating, it really wasn't for me.
The storyline follows our protagonist Kahlen, pronounced Kaylynn according to Kiera Cass' Tumblr page. Kahlen was once a wealthy society girl, traveling the open seas with her parents when tragedy strikes. While those around her have perished, Kahlen is offered a lifeline. To join the sisterhood of singing Sirens or join her parents on the ocean floor. She wants to live and tentatively accepts the deal.
Fast forward eighty years and Kahlen is now a Siren, immortal and only twenty years from completing her role until another takes her place. Along with her sisters in Elizabeth, Miaka and the soon to be departed Aisling, Kahlen serves the Ocean in an emotional contract which sees her sing to to feed her thirst for human life. The Ocean is portrayed as an energy who owns the life of each Siren until her time of servitude is over. She's possessive and continues to brainwash her possessions that they are her property. Although ruling with with a firm and controlling hand, She is passive aggressive and uses the motion of Her waves to caress her Sirens to soothe them in their time of need.
Fast forward eighty years and Kahlen is now a Siren, immortal and only twenty years from completing her role until another takes her place. Along with her sisters in Elizabeth, Miaka and the soon to be departed Aisling, Kahlen serves the Ocean in an emotional contract which sees her sing to to feed her thirst for human life. The Ocean is portrayed as an energy who owns the life of each Siren until her time of servitude is over. She's possessive and continues to brainwash her possessions that they are her property. Although ruling with with a firm and controlling hand, She is passive aggressive and uses the motion of Her waves to caress her Sirens to soothe them in their time of need.
The Ocean has now become a third party in the strangest love triangle I've come across.
Akinli is a quiet and intelligent college student, meeting Kahlen in the student library in which he works. Apart from a name that sounds more like a cocktail, he's actually the only likable character The Siren has to offer. Like her sisters, Kahlen is mute. She communicates using sign language for the fear of her musical voice luring others to their death. Of course Akinli finds this endearing and cake baking ensues.
Akinli is a quiet and intelligent college student, meeting Kahlen in the student library in which he works. Apart from a name that sounds more like a cocktail, he's actually the only likable character The Siren has to offer. Like her sisters, Kahlen is mute. She communicates using sign language for the fear of her musical voice luring others to their death. Of course Akinli finds this endearing and cake baking ensues.
Good times kids. Good times.
Alas, their relationship can never be and Kahlen leaves behind a heartbroken Akinli to devote herself to the Ocean once more. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder and it isn't long until Kahlen wants to return, confiding in her sisters about the absence of love of her life that is slowly destroying her spirit. If she returns to Miami, the Ocean will surely destroy the sea fairing Akinli as punishment, ensuring She has Kahlen's devotion.
That's quite the dilemma Kahlen.
What did surprise me is that The Siren isn't a new release, but a polished version of an earlier release. It had potential, but I feel the finer details of the storyline is what let The Siren down. The mythology behind the Sirens felt flimsy. Mythical beings that were said to have lured men to their deaths, their willpower stripped away and leaving girls who lacked both personality and distinguishing traits. The romance soon became the focal point of the storyline and rather than world building or introducing much needed mythology while the young loves were separated, what I found was little more than teen angst and pining away for a boy she has only just met.
Alas, their relationship can never be and Kahlen leaves behind a heartbroken Akinli to devote herself to the Ocean once more. Absence really does make the heart grow fonder and it isn't long until Kahlen wants to return, confiding in her sisters about the absence of love of her life that is slowly destroying her spirit. If she returns to Miami, the Ocean will surely destroy the sea fairing Akinli as punishment, ensuring She has Kahlen's devotion.
That's quite the dilemma Kahlen.
What did surprise me is that The Siren isn't a new release, but a polished version of an earlier release. It had potential, but I feel the finer details of the storyline is what let The Siren down. The mythology behind the Sirens felt flimsy. Mythical beings that were said to have lured men to their deaths, their willpower stripped away and leaving girls who lacked both personality and distinguishing traits. The romance soon became the focal point of the storyline and rather than world building or introducing much needed mythology while the young loves were separated, what I found was little more than teen angst and pining away for a boy she has only just met.
The final Verdict
The overall storyline had a wonderful premise, a mythical and immortal being, a forbidden romance and obstacles to overcome. But the lack of world building, little to no character development felt as though it could have been mistaken for satire. For all it's faults and there were many many faults, I still couldn't put it down.
Kelly likes ballgowns and she cannot lie. Actually, that's not entirely true. I'm a bit skeptical of underwater ballgowns made of ocean trash. That's some Oscar the Grouch shit right there.
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Written by Laura Dockrill
Paranormal, Mermaids
Published July 2nd 2015
208 Pages
Thank you to Hot Key Books and Five Mile Press
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RATING ★★★
Looking after a naked girl he found washed up under Hastings pier isn't exactly how Rory had imagined spending his sixteenth birthday. But more surprising than finding her in the first place is discovering where she has come from.Lorali is running not just from the sea, not just from her position as princess, but her entire destiny. Lorali has rejected life as a mermaid, and become human.But along with Lorali's arrival, and the freak weather suddenly battering the coast, more strange visitors begin appearing in Rory's bemused Sussex town. With beautifully coiffed hair, sharp collared shirts and a pirate ship shaped like a Tudor house, the Abelgare boys are a mystery all of their own. What are they really up to? Can Rory protect Lorali? And who from? And where does she really belong anyway?
The lazy seaside town of Hastings is known for it's quiet cobblestone streets, it's portside fishing and the dream of escaping and making more of your small town life. None more so for Rory. Reminiscing about his long gone father while an earth shattering storm rolls in, wasn't how Rory thought he'd spend his sixteenth birthday. He certainly didn't expect to find a girl, naked and alone, washed up underneath the Hastings pier. Lorali doesn't speak and her beauty is almost otherworldly, leaving Rory instinctively wanting to keep her safe.
Lorali's life as a royal mermaid had driven her to the surface, making the painful transition from mermaid to Walker. Her kingdom is in disarray, sending the well mannered and dashing Abelgare pirate brothers to return her to her rightful home and they aren't the only ones. The sea is a haven for pirates and hunters, not all with the intention of returning the princess to her kingdom. Not knowing who he can trust, Rory will protect Lorali with his life by putting himself in danger in the process.
I haven't had much luck with Mermaid themed young adult reads, they tend to be underwhelming and not the magical, whimsical storylines most readers are probably expecting. Not only does Lorali break that mould, but it's a much darker storyline than I'd imagined. Told from three points of view, Rory, Lorali and The Sea, it tells the story of Princess Lorali who has surfaced among humans and those who are on the hunt to capture her.
It was deliciously bizarre, the inclusion of pirates, the sirens they tame and the world between the underwater kingdom and Walkers was simplistic, yet incredibly engaging once the hunt for Lorali begins. Rory's character is the average, knockabout lad but cares deeply for his single mother who seems on the verge of falling apart. Along with best friends Flynn and Elvis, they plan on celebrating Rory's sixteenth birthday when the weather turns nasty and Lorali washes up on shore. Her transformation from mermaid to human is incredibly charming.
Lorali is a unique storyline of mermaids, sirens and pirates within the human world. Slow to begin, but the action soon heats up as the battle is on to capture and return Lorali home... Or otherwise. With points of view from The Sea, it is a unique read and one of the more engaging mermaid themed books in young adult.
Lorali's life as a royal mermaid had driven her to the surface, making the painful transition from mermaid to Walker. Her kingdom is in disarray, sending the well mannered and dashing Abelgare pirate brothers to return her to her rightful home and they aren't the only ones. The sea is a haven for pirates and hunters, not all with the intention of returning the princess to her kingdom. Not knowing who he can trust, Rory will protect Lorali with his life by putting himself in danger in the process.
MY THOUGHTS
I haven't had much luck with Mermaid themed young adult reads, they tend to be underwhelming and not the magical, whimsical storylines most readers are probably expecting. Not only does Lorali break that mould, but it's a much darker storyline than I'd imagined. Told from three points of view, Rory, Lorali and The Sea, it tells the story of Princess Lorali who has surfaced among humans and those who are on the hunt to capture her.
It was deliciously bizarre, the inclusion of pirates, the sirens they tame and the world between the underwater kingdom and Walkers was simplistic, yet incredibly engaging once the hunt for Lorali begins. Rory's character is the average, knockabout lad but cares deeply for his single mother who seems on the verge of falling apart. Along with best friends Flynn and Elvis, they plan on celebrating Rory's sixteenth birthday when the weather turns nasty and Lorali washes up on shore. Her transformation from mermaid to human is incredibly charming.
Lorali. I'm a bit in love. A bit in love with this weird girl wearing my clothes, stuffing butter into her mouth off a knife.But lorali is by no means safe, and Rory is about to find out how deadly betrayal can be. As much as I enjoyed the storyline overall, I found the world building lacking. Lorali's underwater kingdom was underdeveloped and I found it hard to imagine. Seeing a point of view from The Sea was bizarre, and it felt as though it used the narrative as a way to explain the pirates and the politics of Lorali's world. Inventive, but personally I would rather have seen a point of view from the pirate Abelgare brothers, who added a dose of intrigue throughout the storyline.
THE VERDICT
Lorali is a unique storyline of mermaids, sirens and pirates within the human world. Slow to begin, but the action soon heats up as the battle is on to capture and return Lorali home... Or otherwise. With points of view from The Sea, it is a unique read and one of the more engaging mermaid themed books in young adult.
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