I'm posting this now or I'll forget in the morning: Surface by Tiffany Duane

My son took over my bed and pulled a starfish in it. Instead of sending him to his own bed I decided that tonight I'd choose my battles, and that I wasn't up for that one this time. So I finished reading a story on my "to read and review" pile. I'm pretty glad that these merfolk aren't like the types of merfolk in my story. I'm glad I read it though, as it was a very nice read.

Ok, so part of that's due to the romance element. In my defense, this is the sort of book that Ryu would have on his bookshelf or ereader when not doing things for class or brooding over how to get BlowingWind to move just a bit faster in her training, heal inner wounds, or talk to her mother.

Ryu: Guys can like romance too, thank you...

Surface by Tiffany Duane
 
My first impression was that I really liked the cover. I was intrigued by the juxtaposition of above water and below water.

 

Then as I read I was made to wonder why the heroine was kidnapped. The way it was set up she seemed to be just a normal girl at the beginning. At first I thought it was a mystery, and then a romance. At 41 pages into the book there were already more than enough possibilities to have the gears in my mind spinning as I tried to figure out where Ms Duane will take the story next.

 

Something that resonates with me, and that I include in my own stories, is the danger that mankind can put on the natural world. I was very glad to see this warning show up in the story.

 

I am also very pleased by how natural the character interaction is. There were quite a few scenes that had me chuckling. There were also those scenes that had me nauseous with worry for the characters.

 

The description was also very good too. I give extra points for incorporating the kudzu vines. That starchy root certainly is a staple for those that have it in their diet, but when they get growing wild...there's a reason they get classed as invasive. The juxtaposition with one of the Artagasians, Celeste, I found particularly interesting given her personality.

 

The book leaves off at a good place. There is still room for expansion, and yet it is tied off leaving a sense of closure as well. I am looking forward to reading the next book, I very much want to see what happens next.

 

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Little bit on the spendy end for an ebook though...