Review: Fantastic read
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 1, 2014
The Call Of The Deep is only the 4th mermaid book I've ever read and it is nothing like any of the others and nothing like I expected. I'm struggling to review this one, I don't know if it's because I've had no sleep or the plot of this story has just wiped my brain of any comparatives.Going for honesty-this is an incredibly compelling albeit slightly odd story. And I am constantly on the look out for books to read which break the mould and The Call Of The Deep Does that.I'll start with the setting. I'm an Australian so I only really know the lay-out of the most prominent parts of the U.S but from what I can gather, this is a mermaid story told from landlocked parts of the continent so that in itself is out there. For me, it's a bit of a stretch of the imagination-I was squinting to envision a mermaid frolicking about in a reservoir but I know that the majority of cosplay mermaids out there right now do in fact, live in the 'middle' of the U.S and have to swim in lakes, dams, chlorinated pools etc etc so I know Tracey Lane's tale is going to resonate beautifully with these ocean-starved folk. For me, it was difficult to relate to because I'm lucky enough to live within ten minutes of ten beautiful beaches so as far as my obsession is concerned, mermaids are synonymous with the ocean and that is where my fascination comes from BUT I think it's wonderful that the story-telling breathes new life and new locations into a very localised and cliche genre the way Twilight rouses vampires from their coffins and into the daylight. And there are parts of it set in the ocean as well so rest assured, you'll get the best of both worlds and my interest is definitely peaked when it comes to some of the towns she features such as Santa Fe.Okay onto the characters-five stars there. Tracey Lane has assembled a beautiful cast for this story. There is not one character within this book who you're likely to have encountered on the page before. Everything from their looks to their biology and mannerisms is unique. I very much liked the heroine Meri and was head over heals for her champion, Mat. The best friend Kelsey was a winner as well but her loyalty and sweetness and understanding seemed to know no bounds but she wasn't a 'Little Women Beth' either which was a relief.************Spoiler Alert***************But the characters are also where I stumbled a bit with this story. Ever been reading a book and pause to think: 'Hmmm...maybe I'm not a very good person?' Because I felt this way often with TCOTD. The characters are a bunch of 'new adults' who have their heads completely screwed on and their wits about them. I've heard of people like this-my mum knows a few who went off to university and got into sweet, long term relationships with sweet young gentlemen. They go out and don't drink, they never linger on the wrong side of the law and never argue with their friends.... but those people look at me funny and I'm kind of okay with that. So it was hard to identify, both as a bit of a sassy-pants and a writer who likes to get her characters into as much trouble as humanly possible with some of the things the characters did within this story. Or rather, what they did NOT do. If I was Mericle, I'm sorry to say, Mat's eyes would have been jet black by the time I was through with him and his little sparrow would have been locked in the toilet cubicle at the movies so I could make out with him. I am ashamed to say how many times I wished death upon a character or two to make the 'Ocean Spirit' rethink some things.Don't get me wrong I appreciate where the writer is coming from here but maybe she doesn't know her own strengths. The sexual tension within this novel is butterfly inducing but it always fizzes out or is handled so sweetly that I thought it was a bit unrealistic. Halfway through the story I was screaming: 'Charge Meri!' and then...someone else charged. From that point on I started flicking the kindle pages like a madwoman waiting for the moment when sparrow got eaten by a hawk but as another reviewer pointed out, this is what you'd call an 'abortive' romance by the look of things, regardless of how desperately I wish for a different outcome, this is actually going to be a sweet, fuss-free love story with an emphasis on character development. It has a lot of potential but more focus needs to be bestowed upon Jeff to really sell me on this because right now, I'm having a bit of a sad.However that is me-I have the sweet romance in my life so I'm the kind of reader who's always hooting and hollering for a sexy, scandalous romance I can live vicariously through. So though this book hints towards a love triangle, people who do not love them shouldn't fear sinking their teeth into it because the heroine has a very chaste, pure heart and the love story instead of forking off while our heroine beats through the forest in the middle, splits into two completely separate ones.I was frustrated at times, but it's a credit to the writer for being able to put some good old fashioned ethics out there. And the only reason I am so frustrated is because Miss Lane had created a to-die-for hero within Mat. Oh my goodness Mat, Mat Mat...he needs a bit of roughing up but what a beautiful man. Though, from the sound of things, he wouldn't like me very much, lol. I'd be testing his eye colour at every turn.There is definitely romance in this story but it is by no means the central plot. The story centres around Meri getting her tail, and learning how to use that tail, how to breath etc. It paints mermaids in a very new way and though I've said it can be a bit odd it's also very refreshing and believable. Some things were detailed in great description but others were omitted, possibly for future focus. People who long to be mermaids themselves are going to love this as it's almost a 'how-to' guide. I also love love love some of the mermaid 'traits,' such as eye colours that change depending on the purity of the person, the role of hair as a mer stimuli and the watermarks. I wouldn't say there's a lot of world building within the novel but rather 'creature-building' and as I'm a sucker for details, this doesn't disappoint.There were a few plot flaws but once again-this is just my humble and rather shallow opinion-I don't really get a twist towards the end when Jeff is inserted into the story into a new body. For me it didn't have much relevance and I guess that's because he was changed back so easily-I would have liked to see that climax pulled over into book two. And that is what is lacking in this story-conflict. Though there are bad guys in the offing, the biggest challenge Meri has to overcome is herself and her tail and I got a bit exhausted from all the learn to swim stuff. And thanks to the Ocean Spirit, you know by the end of the book that she's going to win so in that sense, so although I really want to read more and wish I had the second instalment in my hands right now, I'm not actually worked up over it. The solution to every problem they have always seems to be right there at their fingertips so I pray for a bit more evil and action in book two.The Call Of The Deep is a very impressive debut for an Indie writer. I didn't notice any grammatical errors at all, and I think Tracey Lane writes beautifully. It's original and compelling and once you immerse yourself within it, you probably won't want to put it down. What strikes me the most about this book is how easily I can see it capturing anyone's imaginations-like Merminia I can see this being devoured by YA, New Adult and adults alike, though I'll shelve it under NA because so much of it is about a girl caught somewhere between youth and maturity, trying to get her bearings in life and on her heart. Where Merminia is the very portrayal of the ultimate underwater mermaid fantasy The Call Of The Deep is the very opposite-from an angle that I don't think anyone has come at before and makes it a rule-breaker within the genre and it's exciting in that sense.I have pointed out a few issues which made the story incompatible with me and yet I was up until 2am reading it last night and have been carrying my ipad around with me everywhere to read at every chance I got and that's just fantastic because I have no time right now but something about The Call Of The Deep demands that you make it a priority. Nothing about it is cliche or typical. The characters do the exact opposite of what you'd expect every single time and it keeps you thinking about it even when you're not reading. Recommend to everyone who loves their romance with a side of sweetness and expectation and who like to be put on the back foot by books!