Author: Ciye Cho
Publisher: self-published
Publish date: July 1, 2012
Genre: YA, paranormal
Pages: 203 (eARC)
Source: From author for review
Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Florence Waverley is out of her depth. Literally. Kidnapped and taken below the waves to the mer world of Niemela, she is the ultimate gift for merman Prince Kiren: a human familiar tied to his side. But nothing is what it seems amid the beauty and danger of a dark ocean.
Every Niemelan has a role to play, from the mermaids who weave towers out of kelp to the warriors who fight sea monsters. But in trying to survive, Florence will end up in the middle of a war between the mer and the Darkness. A conflict that will push her between two brothers: Kiren, the charmer inexplicably drawn to both her and the monsters; and Rolan, the loner who has been pushing her away since the day they met. But in order to take a stand--and find out where she belongs--Florence will have to risk it all: her life, her heart... and her very soul.
From Goodreads
If I had to choose one word to describe this book, I’d say it’s beautiful. The descriptions of the world of Niemela, the colours and surroundings, are so vivid and intricate that I could really picture the world hidden at the bottom of the ocean, surrounded by the Darkness. There was such a colourful picture laid out in my head thanks for the descriptive writing of Ciye Cho.
The story itself really sucked me in. Not right away though, because it is slow going when Florence first gets to Niemela. Once she finds out where she is and why, and suffers a failed escape attempt, it really is all about discovering Niemela: the world, the people, the animals. Eventually the story picks up as Florence starts to wonder about what kind of role she has in Niemela, and she becomes more attached to the world, and it’s two princes.
Florence was a great main character and narrator. She’s a girl who is used to being invisible, who observes people from the sidelines. Being thrust into Niemela where she stands outs like a sore thumb, is a highly uncomfortable situation for Florence. She hates how everyone stares at her, and talks about her, and knows who she is. But she grows so much over the course of the book. Her intentions are questioned, and she’s forced to re-examine her life. Who she is, what she has, and what she wants. She comes out as a different person in the end.
Overall, this was a really enjoyable book. My favourite thing about it was definitely the descriptions of Niemela. They really are beautiful. Ciye Cho definitely knows how to convey a picture through words.
Although I haven’t been able to find any information about it, I think there’s going to be a sequel. There’s definitely opportunity for it to be… And I would definitely be interested to see what would come next for Florence and the world of Niemela.
Thanks to Ciye Cho for the ebook review copy!
Buy on Smashwords for $0.99 here.
See all the places to buy Florence on Ciye Cho's website here.
