(Blog Tour) Waterfell (Aquarathi, #1) by Amalie Howard

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Release date:

October 29th, 2013.

Harlequin Teen

Book summary:

"Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day she can claim her birthright—the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon—until her father's betrayer confronts Nerissa and challenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa's upcoming birthday—the day she comes of age.

Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa's mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpin that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?"

      And I thought this would be a Little Mermaid re-telling. I was sure Waterfell would be a retelling of Andersen's famous fairy tale about mermaid princess  who fell in love with a boy and wanted to be human so she could be with him. Even after first few pages I wasn't sure, everything pointed out to that premise, but quickly I realized I was wrong.

      Our heroine, Nerissa, is not human but also she is not mermaid no matter the fact that her "natural habitat" is sea and ocean. She goes to high school, has friends, goes out, have guardians and big brother who likes to stick his nose where he shouldn't and, of course, there is hot, new guy . Typical girl, if you ignore the fact that she is a monster. Okay, she is not monster. But you'll have to read the book to figure out things for yourself. 

      To be honest, plot is quite predictable (or maybe it's just me and the fact that I read over hundred books like this so I know what to expect), but what makes it fresh and new is mythology. I enjoyed that part of the story the most, but I wish that Amelie Howard focused more on that aspect of her novel than the romance. Some parts have unfinished feeling, but I am guessing that we will find out everything in the sequels. 
 
      Romance. I believe that it won't be a big surprise for most of the readers that central motif of the Waterfell is love. Nerissa and Lo - the almost star crossed lovers. Some parts felt little bit over the top, but on the other hand there were few really hot scenes (young adult hot, nothing else).

      Characters. Typical for this genre and, for me, not so  likeable, especially Nerissa who is mostly self-centered and selfish. I didn't find her "transformation" very believable and honest. Lo was okay, I wondered few times how could he go along with all  Nerissa's mood changes, but his background was something I didn't predict until the very end.

    Who should read it? All of you who love young adult paranormal romance novels. I think that younger readers will probably enjoy it more that older ones.

Happy reading,