Loved it! Hoping this is a sequel, and would love to read the next one. It's got teen romance, fantasy, and mermaids in it. If you like those, get this book!!! :)

I don't know how many mermaid books I have read this year. Honestly, I have read quite a few and each one is different from the other. It's actually interesting being able to read different takes and versions of mermaid stories. I've always loved Disney's The Little Mermaid. So, I was just so happy to find out that this book is a retelling of the same fairy tale though it's more on Hans Christian Andersen's version.

This is a totally different version of Disney or Anderson's version. I think it's actually a refreshing adaptation which puts the famous Little Mermaid star on a darker shade. Yes, in this retelling, The Little Mermaid's story did not have a happy ending which provides a background story of how this Lia's story came to be. So, following the events after The Little Mermaid's last action to claim her one true love, a war broke out in the mermaid kingdom. As an aftermath of that war, some Mer people decided to leave on land and hide their identities.

I think the thing that strikes me most about the story is the author's version of The Little Mermaid's story. I was impressed. I like it. I like because it's such a very unexpected turn of events. It somehow puts The Little Mermaid in such a bad light that had caused a series of unfortunate events for her descendants and the rest of the Seven Seas. I think it's such a radical way of setting the stage for this retelling but I think it really works. It's totally an out-of-the-box way to put it and I just love it because it's so unforeseen. I would never have thought to actually think of the story going that way, especially, on my favorite fairy tale character and story. I don't know how many times I've watched The Little Mermaid or sang the OST and imagining I was Ariel. I'm just totally impressed by the background story. I just can't stress that enough.

Lia's character is very relatable because she's going through the same things teenagers are dealing with. Though, I'm sure, no one can relate to being a Mermaid on land. Anyways, she's been a really good teenager until she's forced to break the rules when the new girl seems to have a bigger chance of ending up with the boy she wants. It's a normal teenage love triangle until the secrets and the darker element were added in. The competition now comes with much more devastating consequences. And the game changes because it's not just about natural charms and wit anymore, it's more than that. It's a much more threatening display of powers and abilities that is beyond the reaches of dry land. So, Lia is forced to tap into her family's ancient abilities and secrets to even up the playing field. The one that she was sworn to never ever do.

I love that this story has a mix of intrigue and mystery. I enjoyed Caspian and Lia playing detective. I also love that most of the characters in the story are named after precious stones. The last name Nautilus is also very perfect. It reminds me of Captain Nemo's submarine in Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I enjoyed that story and the series adaptation SeaQuest very much. May Jonathan Brandis and Roy Scheider rest in peace.

Ah, this is very exhilarating. It's refreshing. I give this book 5/5 swimsuits. I just love how this was adapted to the original Andersen story. Yes, sometimes happy ending are overrated and finding another story with a totally unique twist is just so entertaining. I can't wait for the next book. Good thing I already have it with me courtesy of Month9Books. I will soon dive into the world of Lia and her friends again.

How can you narrow down to a few paltry words something that means everything?
- Tobie Easton, Emerge -

Thank you Month9Books and Tobie Easton for the copy. ( )

First posted at Realm of the Sapphired Dragon on 27/4/16 AEST

I received this book free from Month9Books in return for an honest review

I have always like stories about mermaids and this is on of the most engaging ones I have read in a while. I easily slipped in to the tail and was kept there from beginning to end. I really like the different angles , this story brought to the mermaid Myth ie the connection to the little mermaid and the Hans Christian Anderson tale but also the idea of being exiled on land due to war. This exile was padded out well with a believable mythos behind it as a well thought out way of life for the mermaids co-existing with humans on land.

I wasn't a huge fan of Lia and thought she made some bad choices in the book. That being said though, i liked seeing there be consequences of the bad choices and the fact that she wasn't portrayed as the all perfect heroine.

I also liked that even when I was able to predict certain plot points, there were also things that came as a surprise and others that made me just enjoy the journey. The story and the writing flowed well, keeping me invested in the story till the end. I wanted and need to find out how it would all turn out.

This story works as a stand along however Goodreads does have it as book 1 of the Mer Chronicles. I am really hoping that means we get to read stories about some of the other characters in the Mer World. In particular i would love to read Caspian's story, I was really intrigued by his character, his insatiable need for learning, languages on particular, and what he and his family had experienced from other Mer as result of his siren Aunt.

I really loved this story and this world and gave it 3 3/4 stars!


Sapphired Dragon xx ( )

When given the opportunity to read an ARC of Emerge, I jumped at the chance. I really enjoyed the fresh take on mermaid mythology sprinkled throughout the story. Lia was in many ways your typical high school junior, but she also struggled to keep her mermaid side a secret. She's also fighting her attraction to an off-limits human boy, Clay. When a new girl shows up and captures Clay's attention, Lia feels the urge to protect him, although she doesn't know why. I especially loved the interaction between Lia, her sisters, and her cousin, Amy, who along with Lia's best friend Caspian, made up a supportive mermaid network of friends. The story was action-packed and kept me guessing right to the very end. I can't wait for Book 2! ( )

I received this book through Early Reviewers. This was a light, entertaining read; fairly typical YA story of teenage angst, indecision, young love, saving the world, etc set in the world of mermaids, which was new to me. I enjoyed the book sufficiently that I will buy the next book in the series to see how the world and Lia develop. ( )