Review: Good choice for fans of dystopian YA fantasy, especially if it involves merfolk
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 03 28, 2012
Disclosure: I received a free copy of this ebook via the LibraryThing Members Giveaway in exchange for an honest review.Synopsis: The Mers: What lies beneath the surface?One hundred years from now, the world has changed and brought with it, new forms of life. Who are the Mers? Who is Mira?Mira always knew she was different. Growing up with Mers, she never quite fit in. When Mira breaks the rules and takes Niren with her, across the border dividing Elise Island and New Jersey, the border dividing two vastly different worlds, she thought the journey to find out who she really is would be an easy one. But as the world in Jersey proves to be a convoluted mix of humans who hate the Mers, and pirates who want to sell them...finding her true identity will be a challenge, especially when her best friend Niren is a Mer willing to fight to the death.A series twist on the Mermaid tale.My Thoughts: After "The Invasion of 2020" I wasn't expecting much. However, while the idea of a young girl deciding to go wander around in the city of her people's deadly enemies just to see if she can find her family is a little far-fetched, this is a much better book overall. However, Blackwelder does a much better job developing the characters and creating an easily followed plot. I actually found myself quite engrossed in the story, wondering what would happen next. I liked the genetic progression from human to mer and although I'm not certain how realistic the pace of the mutation was, I felt the mutation itself was fairly realistic based upon the adaptability of DNA. I'm not sure of the additional progression that takes place, but this is a fantasy novel, so I'll let that slide - it made sense in the context of the story and that is what matters. Folks who enjoy dystopian YA fantasy, especially regarding merfolk, should find this book eminently readable.