REVIEW: OF TRITON BY ANNA BANKS.

Title: Of Triton
Series: The Syrena Legacies #2
Author: Anna Banks
Edition: Paperback
Publication: Square Fish (Macmillan) / May 23, 2013
Source: Finished copy sent by the publisher
Pages: 246
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Trailer: Watch HERE.

Synopsis:

Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half-Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

Once again, Anna Banks infuses Emma and Galen's points of view with humor, intrigue, and waves of romance.

*Some spoilers*

Galen is trying to prove to Grom that the long-lost love of his life is alive. It took a while before their paths have crossed but that isn't the only trouble that they have to face. They have to make the Syrenas acknowledge that the Princess is indeed the alive but Jagen is in the way. He's trying to manipulate the Syrenas that they needed change, that the Royal Family has neglected their people for so long that they truly didn't need them anymore. He's using the opportunity to overthrow the Royal Family and Galen is trying to let Emma out of this. But their love has to be tested yet, their friendship and and even loyalty.

Of Triton is an easy read one can enjoy any time. I enjoyed how fast-paced the story is and it was like, everything is plain straight-forward. Banks' writing is absolutely enjoyable, her ability to dash wit in every chance she gets makes the story even more lovable. I cannot wait to flip through Of Neptune to see through the series.

Emma however, bored me a little bit. She assumes a lot of things, she decides on behalf of others and she's (as always) stubborn. Her self-centeredness seeped up. Unfortunately, I didn't fully connect with her in this book. Even if her Poseidon gift deemed useful, there were just moments I felt as if her emotion left her. There was just something off about her in this sequel. But I adored Galen even more. He's logical, brave and his unselfishness shone bright. I liked how he's giving his might to bring his people back together at the same time, protecting humans. His character pretty much developed in a very relatable way. Though I hated how he easily believed Toraf betrayed him. He should have given Toraf at least the benefit of the doubt because he is is bestfriend but he didn't. It's as if their friendship didn't matter. And lastly, why didn't they anticipate what could have happened to Rachel? That was a hundred point seven percent their fault. I mean, come on. That was absolutely uncalled for.

Of Triton is a sequel sprinkled with hearts and tears then bottled up with the right amount of humor. This installment pushes the rage, loss and happy buttons in moments no one would anticipate. Balanced carefully, Of Triton is the go-to book if you want a light and fun paranormal read.

Thank you Pan Macmillan Asia for the review copy!

"My dad always told me that holding a grudge is like swallowing poison and expecting the other person to die."

"Only land dwellers worry about storms."

REVIEW: OF POSEIDON BY ANNA BANKS.

Title: Of Poseidon
Author: Anna Banks
Series: Of Poseidon #1
Edition: Paperback
Publication: May 22, 2012 by Feiwel and Friends
Source: Borrowed ARC from Precious over at Fragments of Life
Pages: 324
Genre: Mythology, Fantasy, Romance

Synopsis:

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. 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...

Told from both Emma and Galen's points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE:

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Of Poseidon is exhilarating!

I am not entirely sure why I haven't picked this up sooner after I heard all the fuss about it! Good thing I was able to borrow an ARC from Precious at Fragments of Life last March during Tahereh Mafi's Book Signing! Imagine how long it took me to read it? That was four months! Tormenting myself wouldn't do justice on how long I deprived myself of something as fantastic as this novel! I swear on Triton's Trident, it was that good!

Emma is clumsy. When he tripped over on Galen at the beach, she was thrilled to look at his violet eyes, like hers, though she was completely embarrassed. A freak accident happened after they've separated and that's when Galen concluded that she's like him, a Syrena. Only he got confused because Emma didn't change appearance and he had to figure out the truth. He would do anything, including squeezing the truth from Emma herself.

Of Poseidon is absolutely no doubt one of the best novels I've read this year! This is absolutely no doubt one of the best Mythology books ever existed! THIS is absolutely no doubt THE best mermaid novel I ever read! How can you not love a novel that basically hits two birds with one stone? The love I have for mythology plus my hunger for the best mermaid novel just BAAM!! collided in one fantastic novel! What have I been doing all this time that I even had the guts to postpone reading this? THIS IS JUST SO GOOD I WANNA RE-READ IT AFTER I FINISHED IT! Banks definitely nailed bringing Poseidon's history to present and baking it to perfection! Like gooey, fluffy, yummy perfection! World building is as simple as I could picture it to be but hello??? TITANIC?? IN PERSON? DANG, THE BEST PART OF IT ALL! It was like reliving how much I loved Titanic when I was still in high school! And I am telling you, a date like that wouldn't even happen in my life time! The unveiling of secrets about Syrenas and how are they all related to Triton and Poseidon was timely educating and how twisted the ending was! If Riordan is the Father of Cliffhangers, is Banks the Mother? Ohmysweetgoodness, can it be more torturous than that? I am actually having issues processing all this awesomeness so please pardon me if I keep on fangirling or screaming or pulling my hair!

First of all, I was devastated about what happened to Chloe. I think at that point, someone could've saved her and a few characters could've saved her. Thinking how the novel claimed that Galen is the fastest Syrena. Second, why is Rayna so annoyingly cute? Lastly, why do they all have gorgeous, mouth watering VOILET eyes again? I just died there! It was hard for me to be a fan of Emma though. Her temper was annoying. And why did it take her that long to save her friend? But the way she wanted to beat up Rayna? That was AMAZING! Galen however, was definitely a one of a kind character. This was my first encounter with a Syrena and I loved how he was described. His persistence in knowing the truth about Emma, his dilemma to choose between saving mankind and the one person he wanted to be with maybe too heavy for his shoulders but he willingly carried it without complaints. Their pseudo-relationship was at first hilarious and a predictable one I should say, but the way it transgressed was unexpected. It was as if the water itself brought them together and I'm wishing more from their romance in Of Triton!

Of Poisedon would drown you with excitement. The questions behind how the truth would be unveiled is a phenomenon I cannot contain! It is dangerous, adventurous and mysterious! How one person can ever love a novel this much? I have no idea but I am in love with this series! The overall impact is a like tsunami that would knock off your breathing!

Thank you for lending me your ARC, Precious!

"Morning tide makes a great companion when you don’t want to be around people. It soothes and comforts and doesn't ask for anything. But the sun does. The higher it gets, the more I am reminded that nothing stops time. There is no escaping it."