Title: Between The Land And The Sea (Marina's Tales #1)
Author: Derrolyn Anderson
Published: March 30th 2011 by Derrolyn Anderson
Marina is a privileged girl who’s had an unusual upbringing. Traveling the world with her scientist father, doted on by her wealthy and glamorous neighbor Evie, Marina’s life seems perfect.
Everything changes in the summer of her sixteenth year when she is sent to live with her Aunt Abby and Cousin Cruz in the lovely seaside town of Aptos, California.
Only a few weeks after arriving, sixteen year-old Marina has nearly drowned twice, enchanted the hottest guy in high school, and discovered a supernatural creature. If she can manage to survive some increasingly dangerous encounters with unpredictable mermaids, she might be able to unlock the mystery of her past and appease the mysterious forces that want something from her...
And maybe even find true love along the way.
My Thoughts:
“Water always comes back to Earth”
Where can you find a book that has a mermaid genre? The only thing that enters my mind is Little Mermaid, which, many of us are very familiar with. That’s why when I was given a chance to read this story; I was up for it because it’s a change of the norm since I've never read too many mermaid stories.
After finishing everything, I must say that I have a love hate relationship with the story. I’m not so sure but I find some scenes good and some not so good. And I’ll give you bits of why.
Marina, the main protagonist of the story, is beautiful, a fashionista, independent (to a point that you would sometimes hate it) and holds a package of luck. Actually, she’s one of the main reasons why I have this love-hate relationship with the story. It’s because at times I can’t understand her. There are certain times in the story that she seems like she’s too perfect and at times her big flaws shows up. Her stubbornness, which I find endearing at other times, would most of the time irked me. On the other hand, I love how she’s very family and friend oriented that she would fight in any way she can just to save or defend her love ones.
Ethan, her love interest, is your typical handsome surfer dude. He’s good at surfing, smart, handsome, popular, and has a really well thought future. He knows what he wants to have and he knows how he can achieve it. And again he’s one of the almost perfect characters in the story.
And that’s my biggest problem in the book. It’s like some of Derrolyn’s character are too perfect. I mean where can we find an Aunt Evie, who’s wealthy and gives you every signature and known clothes she can buy with her money at a whim to make you pretty. It’s like your high-end fairy godmother that makes it unbelievable, although I really love Evie’s quirky personality. In addition, Marina’s dad winning the Nobel Prize is really a “woah moment” for me especially the way they reacted on it. It’s like it’s only a Nobel Piece Prize, no biggie.
On the other hand, the character I love the best is Cruz. For me, he’s the most realistic character in the story. I love how he would seem an anti-thesis of himself. Gothic and isolated guy who has a major love for fashion. A straight guy who’s good at making dresses and is really nice. Cruz makes you wish for him to be your best friend or cousin or boyfriend or wherever he fits.
So as I’ve said, I’m very into romance and this have a romance story in it. As I’ve said I’m alright with love at first sight but with the right situation. Ethan and Marina’s meeting for me is really cute. Especially, how Marina first saw Ethan and when they finally meet he literally fell for her. Well, he fell butt first in the rosemary hedge, which is really endearing. In addition, they have the attraction but it’s not instant, I love you or I’ll marry you situation. The author made the attraction sizzle up until it pops. Lastly, I like how the author put their relationship in the analogy that Marina is the water and Ethan is the Earth which was very fitting considering Marina is half-mermaid and Ethan loves plants and all that.
All in all, I would say this book is alright for me. I don’t hate it and I’m not raving too much about it but I would like to read the next just to see what happens since the end is a bit of a cliffhanger. Oh, and I’m sure some of you who wants to read a mermaid story for a change would love this because of it’s difference from other mermaid story and it incorporates a modern twist.
I give these 3.5 whales.
Author: Derrolyn Anderson
Published: March 30th 2011 by Derrolyn Anderson
Marina is a privileged girl who’s had an unusual upbringing. Traveling the world with her scientist father, doted on by her wealthy and glamorous neighbor Evie, Marina’s life seems perfect.
Everything changes in the summer of her sixteenth year when she is sent to live with her Aunt Abby and Cousin Cruz in the lovely seaside town of Aptos, California.
Only a few weeks after arriving, sixteen year-old Marina has nearly drowned twice, enchanted the hottest guy in high school, and discovered a supernatural creature. If she can manage to survive some increasingly dangerous encounters with unpredictable mermaids, she might be able to unlock the mystery of her past and appease the mysterious forces that want something from her...
And maybe even find true love along the way.
My Thoughts:
“Water always comes back to Earth”
Where can you find a book that has a mermaid genre? The only thing that enters my mind is Little Mermaid, which, many of us are very familiar with. That’s why when I was given a chance to read this story; I was up for it because it’s a change of the norm since I've never read too many mermaid stories.
After finishing everything, I must say that I have a love hate relationship with the story. I’m not so sure but I find some scenes good and some not so good. And I’ll give you bits of why.
Marina, the main protagonist of the story, is beautiful, a fashionista, independent (to a point that you would sometimes hate it) and holds a package of luck. Actually, she’s one of the main reasons why I have this love-hate relationship with the story. It’s because at times I can’t understand her. There are certain times in the story that she seems like she’s too perfect and at times her big flaws shows up. Her stubbornness, which I find endearing at other times, would most of the time irked me. On the other hand, I love how she’s very family and friend oriented that she would fight in any way she can just to save or defend her love ones.
Ethan, her love interest, is your typical handsome surfer dude. He’s good at surfing, smart, handsome, popular, and has a really well thought future. He knows what he wants to have and he knows how he can achieve it. And again he’s one of the almost perfect characters in the story.
And that’s my biggest problem in the book. It’s like some of Derrolyn’s character are too perfect. I mean where can we find an Aunt Evie, who’s wealthy and gives you every signature and known clothes she can buy with her money at a whim to make you pretty. It’s like your high-end fairy godmother that makes it unbelievable, although I really love Evie’s quirky personality. In addition, Marina’s dad winning the Nobel Prize is really a “woah moment” for me especially the way they reacted on it. It’s like it’s only a Nobel Piece Prize, no biggie.
On the other hand, the character I love the best is Cruz. For me, he’s the most realistic character in the story. I love how he would seem an anti-thesis of himself. Gothic and isolated guy who has a major love for fashion. A straight guy who’s good at making dresses and is really nice. Cruz makes you wish for him to be your best friend or cousin or boyfriend or wherever he fits.
So as I’ve said, I’m very into romance and this have a romance story in it. As I’ve said I’m alright with love at first sight but with the right situation. Ethan and Marina’s meeting for me is really cute. Especially, how Marina first saw Ethan and when they finally meet he literally fell for her. Well, he fell butt first in the rosemary hedge, which is really endearing. In addition, they have the attraction but it’s not instant, I love you or I’ll marry you situation. The author made the attraction sizzle up until it pops. Lastly, I like how the author put their relationship in the analogy that Marina is the water and Ethan is the Earth which was very fitting considering Marina is half-mermaid and Ethan loves plants and all that.
All in all, I would say this book is alright for me. I don’t hate it and I’m not raving too much about it but I would like to read the next just to see what happens since the end is a bit of a cliffhanger. Oh, and I’m sure some of you who wants to read a mermaid story for a change would love this because of it’s difference from other mermaid story and it incorporates a modern twist.
I give these 3.5 whales.
I felt the same way about this book! But as you read more of the story in future book you understand some things. I also could not relate, Marina having Evie and all...but you come to understand why Aunt Evie is the way she is and why she showers Marina with so many things.
ReplyDeleteI actually just finished reading the 4th and last book of the series and let me tell you, the story gets sooo much better! I really liked it!
thanks for telling me that. I'm going to start reading the next books when I have time and to actually fill in some of the facts in the first book that I can't seem to hold on to.
Deleteafter i'm done I'll try and write a review on it too :)
~TheDreamer
Okay, I might read this one. It looks pretty good. :-)
ReplyDeleteHope you would like this series :)
Delete~TheDreamer