Title: Of Poseidon
Author: Anna Banks
Series: Of Poseidon #1
Pages: 324
Format: NetGalley ARC
Publisher: Macmillan
Release Date: May 22nd 2012
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Galen is the prince of the Syrena, sent to land to find a girl he's heard can communicate with fish. Emma is on vacation at the beach.Ever since I was a little girl, I've loved swimming. The Little Mermaid was my favourite Disney movie and I always wanted to be Ariel; swimming in the ocean, rather than be on land. That aside I'm usually a bit skeptical about mermaid books, they usually don't interest me at all... and well... as Galen would say he's not a 'mermaid, or merman' but a Syrena, so problem solved I guess.
When she runs into Galen-literally, ouch!-both teens sense a connection.
But it will take several encounters, including a deadly one with a shark, for Galen to be convinced of Emma's gifts.
Now, if he can only convince Emma that she holds the key to his kingdom . . .
I was so surprised when I read the synopsis for Of Poseidon I was intrigued and extremely interested, It sounded original and fun... and it definitely was all of that, and more!
Okay, I hate it when people compare books to other books etc, but I'm going to be bad and compare this to something. Of Poseidon made me think of a modern day version of the Little Mermaid. Galen was like Ariel, a royal with a love/interest in humans, coming to land and finding many human objects and things foreign and completely strange to him... which was hilarious and a lot like Ariel thinking that a fork was a brush.
"I need to know where Jersey is and if I have enough money to buy it."
Anna Banks did an amazing job, she started off with such a BANG - literally - and then the sudden death, which actually shocked me! I suppose I'm just not used to YA authors killing off their characters so early in a book, which I heartily applaud Banks for doing so, it was sad, shocking and different.
The characters, I loved them all... well maybe all except for Emma's mum, I just didn't feel her as a real person - does anyone know any mother's that are that insane? I suppose her character will grow more in book two and I'll learn to love her. I just wanted to punch her.
To me, the side character's make the book, and Banks did an amazing job there also. Rayna was absolutely hilarious, I have a thing for violent characters that are really soft and squishy on the inside, Rayna fits this description to a Tee. She is downright bitchy, hostile and doesn't think before she speaks - which I just loved. Her whole relationship with Toraf was hilarious and cute and I can't wait to see more of them.
'find an island' is probably my favourite line in the whole book... why? Because it's basically Syrena speak for 'get a room' (it's used a lot jokingly and seriously with Toraf and Rayna - it's where hitched Syrena go to make babies) I thought it was hilarious and I think I will never say 'get a room' ever again. Everyone is going to be so confused when I say 'find an island' instead... to the strange stares and questions I will get I'll just reply with 'go read Of Poseidon... NOW' and the problem will be solved!
Galen, the leading steamy, sexy sea prince of this amazing book... will just whisk you away! He's oh so gorgeous, a bit on the serious side and very protective... which usually I find annoying but in Galen I just thought it was just hot, very hot.
Emma, I liked her I really did, she was hilarious with a whole heap of witty lines to throw in anyone's face, but sometimes I just wanted to give her a good whack! Some things she did were really silly, but everyone does silly things and I can't exactly say that I wouldn't have done the same thing in her situation.. cause I'm pretty stubborn and silly too. I loved the transformation from the timid, shy little girl that she was at the beginning, I didn't think she could transform so much after we were first introduced but it was fantastic watching as she transformed into someone who wouldn't be pushed over easily.
The final line in the book literally had me laughing out loud and screaming 'I KNEW IT' and also 'WHAT!? It can't end there!' Anna Banks you are a genius and I can't wait to read more of your books!
I could talk about Of Poseidon forever, but I'll stop this review here before I bore everyone with my fangirling and leave the rest for you to decide! I hope I've intrigued you enough into giving this one a go, because it was such a thrilling read!
Of Poseidon
by Anna Banks
by Anna Banks
nomalicious nomnom noms
Some favourite quotes:
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Toraf shrugs. "Her skin wrinkles. It's kind of gross. Maybe she's some sort of superhuman. You know, like batman."
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I'm betting Cinderella didn't feel this foolish, but then again, Cinderella wasn't as clumsy as an intoxicated walrus.
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