Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs
Reading Level: Young Adult
Release Date: Available Now
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Pages: 352
Source: Received from publicist for honest review + blog tour
Summary: Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her-and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.
My Review: Since I could remember, I've had this curious fascination with mermaid folklore. So, when it was time for me to review Tempest Rising, I was excited to experience this mythical water world through Tracy's eyes. Tempest, contributed a natural depiction of a typical teenager stuck at the crossroads between home and the unknown. At the age of seventeen she would have to make a decision to either reside on land or give in to the alluring sea. Luckily, thanks to her mother's honesty, Tempest was aware of this forthcoming conclusion. I am a bit tired of the generic plot surrounding a half mermaid's life between land and water. However, Tracy's fluidity and circumstantial descriptions helped boost the story's quality. I've read a few mermaid stories and so far this one held my attention with a sharp appeal.
The moment Kai, a surfer with a secretive agenda, entered the text I was pleasantly stimulated by his character. He was by far my favorite male role in the Tempest Rising, whose effect was dreamy and transcendental. Even though Mark, Tempest's on and off again boyfriend, was a close second. These two guys definitely stirred up some drama in Tempest's self-discovery, which made it that much more interesting. Moving on, when the novel took place under water, I was overwhelmed, in a good way, with the outstanding creativity behind the mystical mermaid world. It made me feel like I was right there too. The only flaw I found was the unfortunate wordiness in some scenes. Don't get me wrong, I love details, but only when they are necessary. All in all, its potential was quite good so if you're a fan of mermaids, check it out!
My Rating: 
-One person will win Tempest Rising.
-Open to US readers only (No P.O. Boxes please.)
-Contest ends on June 12, 2011.
contest is closed.
Tracy Deebs collects books, English degrees, and lipsticks. She has been known to forget where-and sometimes who-she is when immersed in a great novel. She is a writing and literature professor at Austin Community College.
For more info on Tracy, visit her sites:
-Blog
4 comments:
I like your description of Kai - he sounds intriguing. The cover is so pretty too.
Thank you so much for the great giveaway been hearing alot about this book!
I looove this cover! It' gorgeous! Thank you for the giveaway -- I"m so excited for this book =D
Wow, what a cover. Thanks for the info and chance to win!
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