Promises by Amber Garr Paperback, 251 pages
Published (first published December 7th 2011)
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My Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
Sometimes following your heart can end up destroying the ones you love.
When seventeen-year-old Eviana Dumahl is faced with the responsibility of an arranged marriage and clan leadership, she is forced to choose between the life required of a mermaid and one of a teenage girl simply infatuated with the wrong guy. Kain, her devoted fiancé would make a wonderful husband except that she’s been in love with Brendan, a shape-shifting selkie, ever since they were kids. Choosing to abandon her family, her clan, and her life with Kain will have dire consequences far beyond anything she could have imagined.
A war is brewing amongst the clans and Eviana unwittingly becomes a pawn in the intricate schemes of a twisted mastermind. With Brendan’s life on the line, she has no choice but to involve those who she once considered friends. Amidst encountering senseless tragedies and immense loss, Eviana discovers that she is more valuable as a clan leader than anyone ever suspected. Her survival is not only dependent upon the loyalty of her friends, but also on her acceptance of a life that she had so adamantly tried to escape.Promises is the first book of The Syrenka Series trilogy following Eviana and her friends through the perils of growing up in a discrete world that inherently threatens human society.
With my crazy schedule and only a few hours to spare between, I spent every lax second reading this book. I refused sleep in favor of just a few more words. And I now stare bewildered at my Kindle wondering “Where has this book been all my life?” I am in awe! This is my first book involving Selkies , water spirits, and so many other paranormal water creatures. I've said it once and I'll reiterate: Mermaids are the new “it” supernatural. This book showcase a different variation to mere culture. Mer-folk are presented as shape shifters. They live dual water/land lives in Monarch societies divided into clans and have manipulation powers like you wouldn't believe. I was simply fascinated.
This is not your little mermaid.
These fins are almost legal and leaving broken hearts in her wake!
Promises tells the tragic story of a stubborn teen in love. Eviana is next in line to inherit the leadership of her people alongside an arranged marriage. Yet her heart belongs to another. Her chosen beau is frowned upon, yet the statutes of these restrictions is hidden until a moment of intensity. So Eviana runs with her heart forsaking her throne, her status, as well as her family and friends. It was once said, “Decisions based on emotion tend to bite with rational karma.” Thus was the case with Eviana. When turmoil came knocking, her selfish act came back around; and she had to sleep in the bed that she made. Everything she was sheltered from as a youth pose a larger threat; and it's time she's opened her eyes to see the bigger picture.
This was a very fast paced ride with twists, turns, excitement, and unexpected young love with many obstacles. In the end our heroine learned responsibility the hard way. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. There was no misconstruing the age of the characters. They were believable for older teens and their level of maturity was very accurate. I am hard pressed to announce that any one character was my favorite. I adored them all! The plot was very engaging and demanded the attention of the reader. The way each detail was spoon fed to the reader was both teasing and addicting. I am really excited to see what happens next in this series. Please be sure to check out my review of book two, “Betrayal”.
Many thanks to the author for entrusting me with an honest review.
I would recommend this fans of shifters, mermaids, Sottish lore, and fantasy.
This Tour Stop is courtesy of Bookshelf Confessions!
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