Showing posts with label The Syrenka Series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Syrenka Series. Show all posts

September 6, 2012

The Syrenka Series Tour - Arise: Review & Giveaway

 

Arise (The Syrenka Series #3)
Author: Amber Garr
Genre: YA Fantasy

Buy Links:        Amazon         Smashwords        Barnes and Noble


Description:
With power comes the responsibility to accept its consequences.

After the betrayal of those closest to her, Eviana Dumahl struggles to cope with her new reality. Kidnapped, broken, and confused, she is forced to engage in a war that will alter merfolk politics forever. With her estranged father leading the charge, Eviana has no choice but to stand by his side. Her continued existence hinges on the acceptance of the power growing inside her, even when that means embracing the family’s dark lineage.

Kain Matthew will sacrifice the world for Eviana. And he is not alone. As time runs out, her friends fight to save her life and theirs. An unlikely alliance gives them the edge they need to take a stand, although it keeps Eviana’s heart trapped in the past. A new discovery explains some of her previous mistakes, but it may not be enough to stop her father’s plans. Merfolk, selkies, and water sprites work together to save their kind, only in this final battle, not everyone will survive.

In the striking series conclusion, Eviana will learn the true meaning of power, sacrifice, and love.
 
 

Review:

Arise is the final exciting book in the Syrenka trilogy that brings mythological sea creatures to life. It continues to focus on Eviana, our heroine of the series, as well as her clan members and friends. Having to deal with the betrayal of those she loves, as well as being kidnapped and broken, Eviana is forced into a war between the mer clans that will change their lives forever.


I found the final book to be just as fast-paced and fun with lots of fantasy, magic  and great adventure as the first two books of the series. As I've noted before, I haven't read much mermaid fiction before, so I found it interesting how the author wrote about the mermaid culture and their intricate history. I also love how she incorporated other mythological sea creatures into the narratives of all three books. I think that they brought an interesting and fresh feel to the mermaid genre in young adult fiction. The author went a bit deeper into merfolk politics and society with this last installment, which I found to be really intriguing.

Like the first two books of the series, this novel continued to be a bit predictable but it also had great themes and twists that I didn't see coming. I easily reconnected to Eviana and identified with her early in the story. The ending was a good fit for a final book in a series - it didn't leave the ending too open and it didn't leave too many questions unanswered either. Overall, Arise is a great finish to a fun and interesting series.






  About the Author:
Amber Garr spends her days conducting scientific experiments and wondering if her next door neighbor is secretly a vampire. Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Florida with her husband and their furry kids. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell. She writes both adult and young adult urban fantasies and when not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.



 



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August 23, 2012

The Syrenka Series Tour - Betrayal: Review & Giveaway

 


Betrayal (The Syrenka Series Book #2)
Author: Amber Garr
Genre: YA Fantasy

Purchase Links:        Amazon              Smashwords               Barnes and Noble

Description:

Life as a mermaid can be suffocating.

Eviana Dumahl has returned home as a clan leader, an orphan, and a heartbroken teenage girl. Her parents are dead and her boyfriend, Brendan, has decided that he needs some time away. While battling her inner turmoil, Eviana is forced into the war that Lucian Sutherland has incited amongst her own kind. With the help of Kain, her friend and formally betrothed, the two work together to prove that they deserve their birthrights as young merfolk leaders.

When The Council requests a demonstration of Eviana’s mermaid powers, she finds herself with an opportunity to win back Brendan’s heart. But her orders to train with a repulsive merman and the presence of an attractive new suitor challenges Eviana to embrace her leadership and resist temptation. Lucian is after her, and no one seems to understand why. Loyalties are tested as the casualties increase, showing Eviana that sometimes it is impossible to delineate between friends and enemies. 

Review:

Betrayal is the darker and more exciting second book of the Syrenka trilogy that brings mythological sea creatures to life. It continues to focus on Eviana, our heroine of the series, as well as her clan members and friends. After returning home after her parents were killed and her heart was broken, Eviana must join the war against Lucian Sutherland and also must find her destined place among her people.


I found this book to be just as fast-paced and fun with lots of adventure and great fantasy characters as the first book of the series. I haven't read many mermaid fiction before, and I found it interesting how the author presented the mermaid culture and their history. I also loved how she continues to incorporate other mythological sea creatures into the narrative - like water sprites, selkies, and naiads. They brought a unique and refreshing feel to the mermaid genre in young adult fiction. The author went a bit deeper into merfolk culture and society with this installment, which I found to be really riveting.

Like the first book of the series, this story was somewhat predictable but had great twists that I didn't see coming. I easily reconnected to Eviana and easily identified with her early in the story. The ending was a good fit for a second book in a series - it doesn't leave the ending too closed and it doesn't leave too many questions unanswered either. All in all, Betrayal is a great continuation to a fun and interesting series. Fans of paranormal YA fiction and mermaid lore will love this series.





About The Author:
Amber Garr spends her days conducting scientific experiments and wondering if her next door neighbor is secretly a vampire. Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Florida with her husband and their furry kids. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell. She writes both adult and young adult urban fantasies and when not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie. 

Connect with Amber:

Watch the Book Trailer:
 

  





 


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August 7, 2012

The Syrenka Series Tour - Promises: Review & Giveaway

 


Promises (The Syrenka Series #1)
Author: Amber Garr
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
Release Date: December 7, 2011

Buy Links:             Amazon                Smashwords              Barnes and Noble


Description:

Sometimes following your heart can end up destroying the ones you love.

When seventeen-year-old Eviana Dumahl is faced with the responsibility of an arranged marriage and clan leadership, she is forced to choose between the life required of a mermaid and one of a teenage girl simply infatuated with the wrong guy. Kain, her devoted fiancé would make a wonderful husband except that she’s been in love with Brendan, a shape-shifting selkie, ever since they were kids. Choosing to abandon her family, her clan, and her life with Kain will have dire consequences far beyond anything she could have imagined.

A war is brewing amongst the clans and Eviana unwittingly becomes a pawn in the intricate schemes of a twisted mastermind. With Brendan’s life on the line, she has no choice but to involve those who she once considered friends. Amidst encountering senseless tragedies and immense loss, Eviana discovers that she is more valuable as a clan leader than anyone ever suspected. Her survival is not only dependent upon the loyalty of her friends, but also on her acceptance of a life that she had so adamantly tried to escape.

Promises is the first book of The Syrenka Series trilogy following Eviana and her friends through the perils of growing up in a discrete world that inherently threatens human society. 

Review:

Promises is a fun and thrilling first book of the Syrenka trilogy that brings mythological sea creatures to life. It focuses on Eviana, our heroine, as well as her boyfriend Brendan and her friends. After running from her duties to her merfolk clan, Eviana is faced with serious circumstances and must figure out what is happening between the clans and how to stop the war that is threatening to erupt. What Eviana discovers will change her life forever.

I found this to be a fast-paced, fun adventure with great fantasy characters. I haven't read many mermaid fiction before, and I found it interesting how the author presented the mermaid culture and their history. I also loved how she incorporated other mythological sea creatures into the narrative - like water sprites, selkies, and naiads. They brought a unique and refreshing feel to the mermaid genre in young adult fiction.

The story was somewhat predictable but had good twists that I didn't see coming. I felt connected to Eviana and easily identified with her early in the story. The ending was a good fit for a first book in a series - it doesn't leave the ending too closed and it doesn't leave too many questions unanswered either. All in all, Promises is a great start to a fun and interesting series. Fans of paranormal YA fiction and mermaid lore will love this series.






About the Author:
Amber Garr spends her days conducting scientific experiments and wondering if her next door neighbor is secretly a vampire. Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Florida with her husband and their furry kids. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell. She writes both adult and young adult urban fantasies and when not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.

Connect with Amber:



  


Don't forget to enter the tour-wide giveaway too! Fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter!



Be sure to follow all the stops on the tour! Check out the tour schedule here.

Also - make sure to stop back on August 23rd for my review of Betrayal (Book #2) and on September 6th for my review of Arise (Book #3), along with more giveaways!