Nerissa is tired of her "family" (aka her guardians) pushing
her to accept her birthright as queen of an undersea kingdom
full of Aquarathi, mermaid-like creatures. They want her to
defeat the current ruler who killed her real family. Nerissa
just wants to live a normal life, play sports, and not worry
about a kingdom that's better off without her. When Lo, a
gorgeous and annoyingly-everywhere surfer, comes into the
picture, Nerissa tries to fight off her attraction while
also fighting off her Aquarathi nature to enjoy the ocean:
an ocean that is turning dangerous with enemies from
Nerissa's past.
When I first heard of WATERFELL by Amalie Howard, I was
really excited because I love mermaid/sea creature stories,
especially when gorgeous boys are involved. After reading
it, I am so impressed by how much I loved it. Nerissa is a
tough, snarky main character, and I love the relationship
she has with Lo. Her struggle between what she sees as an
unnecessary duty and the easy way of life is relatable. The
way Howard describes her struggle builds the character-
reader relationship well. I also love the worldbuilding in
this novel. While you don't get all the details of the
undersea world upfront, you do get plenty to go on. It's
almost like you get more exposed to the world as Nerissa
remembers more and more. I hope there will be even more
details about the world in the next book, because it sounds
so unique.
Overall, I absolutely love WATERFELL. Nerissa is a
wonderfully connectable character, and Lo is a great swoon-
worthy boy that you almost can't help but love. The twist
that happens with them is set up so skillfully, that even
though I had a strong guess about it, I still felt the punch
when I read it. I can't wait to find out more about this
world and the characters in the sequel to WATERFELL by
Amalie Howard.
Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day she can claim her birthright—the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon—until her father's betrayer confronts Nerissa and challenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa's upcoming birthday—the day she comes of age. Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa's mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpin that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?