Jess Creary is stuck on an island with memories of her
deceased sister. The only highlights are surfing and
flirting
with Matthew. When Jess is out surfing one day, she
catches
a wave that does the impossible and transforms her into a
mermaid. As a mermaid, Jess has confidence and power. But
as
she gets closer to Matthew while on land, the line between
her human and mermaid self starts getting blurrier, and
not
all in good ways as her rage for justice for her sister
grows stronger. With a deadline looming for her to choose
between the ocean and her humanity, there's no guessing
which way the tide will turn.
Compared to witch or vampire stories, mermaid stories are
often in short supply, especially ones that focus on myth
and folklore. THE MERMAID'S SECRET is the perfect
addition
to shrinking the gap, weaving an entertaining and
surprisingly touching tale of Jess and her quest for
happiness. When the story begins, Jess isn't in a good
place, as most twenty-three year olds can relate, and
she's
searching. Becoming a mermaid gives her something she
hasn't
found in her life on land, but it isn't a life without
its
own consequences. Jess's character development is
fantastic,
raising important questions about what it means to be
human
and what it takes to face your own circumstances.
While some parts of the story are a little slow, the plot
is
overall engaging and enjoyable. Once the deadline for
Jess's
choice is set, the pace steadily builds quicker and
quicker.
The romance with Matthew is a slow burn that eventually
flares fast. Jess's best friend and roommate is a
stereotypical, bubbly sidekick, but Jess's relationship
with
her father really shines.
With a wonderful ending, THE MERMAID'S SECRET by Katie
Schickel is a moving exploration of the ocean, its
secrets,
and the nature of humans.
Life on land is suffocating for Jess Creary, who wastes her
summers flipping burgers for tourists on a fishing boat off
her quaint resort island home off the coast of Maine. After
all, her older sister Kay died in a boating accident two
years ago, her mother has disappeared, and her father isn't
exactly dealing with things so well. Surfing and the
handsome Captain Matthew are about the only bright spots in
her life.
Then, on her twenty-third birthday, Jess catches the perfect
wave--a wave that transforms her into a mermaid. Under the
sea, a startlingly beautiful, dark place, Jess is reborn
into a confident, powerful predator with superhuman strength
--finally she is someone to be reckoned with. Meanwhile,
back on land, Jess's relationship with Captain Matthew heats
up, and so does her search for justice for Kay.
Jess has thirty days to choose between land and sea; legs
and fins; her humanity and her freedom. Who could ignore the
freedom of the sea? Yet, the ocean is a dark, wild, lonely
place. Is this a gift or a curse? Will Jess choose family
and love, forgiveness and truth, or will she be seduced by
the wild call of the sparkling sea forever?
Very nicely written. Gives you just the right amount of information to intrigue you, without giving to much away. (Belinda Knight 10:51pm August 22, 2016)
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