Release Date: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 246
Format: Hardcover
Source: ARC from publisher
In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, 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?
Tell Me More: Of Poseidon was one of the funniest and enchanting books I’d read last year, and naturally, I looked forward to returning to Emma’s upside-down life–and how could I not with that cliffhanger?
Anna Banks’ indomitable sense of humour prevails in Of Triton, and continues to make this series one of the most refreshing that I’ve read in a long time.
When we leave Emma and Galen in the first book, Emma’s mother had just knocked her out and taken her away from the Syrena, desperate to escape from what she believes is a group trying to bring her back to the Triton kingdom. Of Triton jumps right back into the action, beginning immediately after said escape, and this allows for no downtime, letting the reader slide into the story as though they’d never left. This technique works wonderfully for the book, keeping the pacing lively enough to sustain reader interest and attachment
Of Triton introduces several new characters into the mix, fleshing out the kingdoms under the sea and their inhabitants. Banks continues to employ dual points-of-view in the story, and while it does take some time to get used to the switch in each chapter, ultimately it serves the story well by giving the reader a chance to meet and get to know each of the new characters. It addresses the challenge of telling two stories at once: Emma’s and her mother’s on land, and the political whirlpool happening below the surface of the ocean. I would have liked more of the Syrena history, but I expect Banks will reveal more of it in the third novel.
The romance–at least in my opinion–took a backseat to the action, giving the series the balance I look for as a reader. As much as I enjoy fluffy moments between Galen and Emma, I also like stories that don’t linger too long on the romance to the detriment of the story’s pacing and plot development. I enjoyed the glimpses of their relationship in between the resolution of the conflict and the growth of the characters, and because they weren’t constantly being paraded in front of me, I could appreciate those moments all the more.
The Final Say: Of Triton is an exhilarating and laugh-out-loud tale that will delight readers, even as they crave more of the intrigue in the Syrena courts. Not only would I share this with fellow mermaid lovers, but YA lovers in general will enjoy the worlds that Anna Banks populates with her lively characters.
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About Anna
Anna Banks’s first novel, Of Poseidon, was a Macmillan Fierce Reads title. She lives in Crestview, on the Florida Panhandle, with her husband and their daughter.
Add Of Triton on Goodreads | Follow Anna on Twitter @byannabanks | Visit Anna’s blog
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Categories: Book Reviews, Paranormal, Splash into Summer, YA fiction
Great review! Xx
I loved the first book, but for some reason still didn’t started this second book. This series is really fun and krefreshing. Loved the syrena idea, plys the really cute guys.
I CAN’T WAIT to read this book! I read Of Poseidon over a year ago and am itching to read this one. I loaded it on my Kobo yesterday and it’s in my “to read” lineup. I was having a hard time remembering details (beyond the fact that I loved it) but your review brought it all back. Thanks Angel!
I loove this book! I wish I owned it! ❤ Great review. Love mermaids!
Reblogged this on Hellar Reviews and commented:
Thanks I’ll add it to my list. I love a funny book.