Genre: Young Adult (Fantasy Romance)
Date Published: September 12, 2017
Publisher: Month9Books, LLC
Now that Lia and Clay’s love has broken the Little Mermaid’s curse, everything has changed. Will Lia’s family remain on land, leading the only life she and her sisters have ever known, or will they move below the waves, to the sparkling new capital city? Lia is adamant about staying on land with Clay for her senior year. But at Melusine and her father’s trial, new revelations threaten what Lia holds most dear.
The verdict will shake Lia’s whole world, calling into question her future with Clay, her feelings for Caspian, and the fate of all Merkind. As she wonders who to trust, Lia sets out on a treacherous path that will lead her away from her sheltered Malibu home to a remote and mysterious school for Mermaids—Mermaids who may hold the secret to ancient magic Lia can use to either get back all she’s lost or to embark on a thrilling and dangerous journey.
Submerge is the second book in the Mer Chronicles by Tobie Easton. I read Emerge and Submerge back to back, but even if I wasn't able to read them so close together, there were some reminders thrown in from the first book. That's so helpful to me, because sometimes a good deal of time passes in between reading books in a series, and I forget some things. With that being said, you need to read these books in order to fully appreciate and know what's going on.
This book picks up right where the first book ended, and it turns into a roller coaster ride for the reader. There is so much going on. Lia comes into her own some more too. I know the first book was more of a coming of age story, mermaid style, so while she grew some through that, she matures even more this time around too. Watching her grow really brings her to life.
There's magic, romance, action, suspense, humor, twists, turns... lots and lots of happenings. Plus, the world building is ridiculously good. I want to live in this world. I mean, come on! Who wouldn't?
It’s my last day of normal, and I plan to enjoy it. While my parents
are getting caught up at the Foundation, I plan to sit right here,
all snuggly on Clay’s couch and not think about what’s coming. Not
think about how tonight, more Merfolk from across the ocean floor
will surface here in Malibu. Not think about where I’ll be this time
tomorrow.
Nope. All I’m going to think about is Clay and maybe how I
can get to know his lips even better. I scoot closer to him on the
couch, rest my head on his shoulder, and inhale. He played me one
of his new songs on the guitar earlier, and the cinnamon scent of his
guitar polish still lingers. He strokes my hair, and this den—his den,
with its overstuffed, checkered furniture, humming AC, and glowing
television—turns into the most relaxing place in the world. Sitting
next to Clay, I can forget for a few minutes that I’m a Mermaid and
just be a normal girl.
“Lia, can I … can I see your tail?”
Or not.
I sit up so fast, Clay’s hand gets tangled in my hair. Ow. “You’ve
seen my tail plenty of times,” I say as he works his fingers free.
It’s true; he’s seen it whenever he comes over and I’m swimming
in my pool with my sisters or spending time in the grottos with
my parents. But now that we’re alone and there’s no water in sight,
deliberately transforming into my tail just so he can look at it feels
like putting myself on display.
“I’ve never seen it up close,” he says, twisting his thumb ring
around in a circle. He’s right—and that’s on purpose. I’ve been making
a point of keeping our alone time as human as possible. We hang out
at the pier, walk on the promenade, grab sushi or burgers—y’know,
normal stuff. Clay’s a human guy and I just … I don’t want … it’s a
lot to take in. What if I scare him off? What if up close, he thinks my
tail’s gross, that I’m gross?
Since I haven’t said anything, he pushes on. “Every time I see you
with your tail, we’re around your family, and I feel like I shouldn’t
stare.” He lets his fingers sweep through his own dark hair, then
claps a hand on his denim-clad leg. “It’s just, it’s a part of you. This
beautiful part, and … but if you don’t want to, that’s cool. If it’s
weird or whatever … ”
I raise my gaze from my lap. “Did … did you say beautiful?”
The corner of his mouth quirks up. An expression I know well.
“Oh yeah.”
I look down at my lap again, and he rests a hand on my thigh, the
heat of his palm warming my skin through the thin jersey of my skirt.
“I think you’re beautiful,” he says.
All of me? I want to ask. Even the parts that are more halibut than
human?
I love my tail, but it’s always been this secret part of me, the part
I have to keep hidden. How will this human boy in front of me—this
handsome, patient human boy—react to seeing it up close? I guess
there’s only one way I’ll find out.
are getting caught up at the Foundation, I plan to sit right here,
all snuggly on Clay’s couch and not think about what’s coming. Not
think about how tonight, more Merfolk from across the ocean floor
will surface here in Malibu. Not think about where I’ll be this time
tomorrow.
Nope. All I’m going to think about is Clay and maybe how I
can get to know his lips even better. I scoot closer to him on the
couch, rest my head on his shoulder, and inhale. He played me one
of his new songs on the guitar earlier, and the cinnamon scent of his
guitar polish still lingers. He strokes my hair, and this den—his den,
with its overstuffed, checkered furniture, humming AC, and glowing
television—turns into the most relaxing place in the world. Sitting
next to Clay, I can forget for a few minutes that I’m a Mermaid and
just be a normal girl.
“Lia, can I … can I see your tail?”
Or not.
I sit up so fast, Clay’s hand gets tangled in my hair. Ow. “You’ve
seen my tail plenty of times,” I say as he works his fingers free.
It’s true; he’s seen it whenever he comes over and I’m swimming
in my pool with my sisters or spending time in the grottos with
my parents. But now that we’re alone and there’s no water in sight,
deliberately transforming into my tail just so he can look at it feels
like putting myself on display.
“I’ve never seen it up close,” he says, twisting his thumb ring
around in a circle. He’s right—and that’s on purpose. I’ve been making
a point of keeping our alone time as human as possible. We hang out
at the pier, walk on the promenade, grab sushi or burgers—y’know,
normal stuff. Clay’s a human guy and I just … I don’t want … it’s a
lot to take in. What if I scare him off? What if up close, he thinks my
tail’s gross, that I’m gross?
Since I haven’t said anything, he pushes on. “Every time I see you
with your tail, we’re around your family, and I feel like I shouldn’t
stare.” He lets his fingers sweep through his own dark hair, then
claps a hand on his denim-clad leg. “It’s just, it’s a part of you. This
beautiful part, and … but if you don’t want to, that’s cool. If it’s
weird or whatever … ”
I raise my gaze from my lap. “Did … did you say beautiful?”
The corner of his mouth quirks up. An expression I know well.
“Oh yeah.”
I look down at my lap again, and he rests a hand on my thigh, the
heat of his palm warming my skin through the thin jersey of my skirt.
“I think you’re beautiful,” he says.
All of me? I want to ask. Even the parts that are more halibut than
human?
I love my tail, but it’s always been this secret part of me, the part
I have to keep hidden. How will this human boy in front of me—this
handsome, patient human boy—react to seeing it up close? I guess
there’s only one way I’ll find out.
Have you read my reviews of the other books in the Mer Chronicles?
To learn more about Tobie Easton and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Thanks for the chance to win. I want to read this so bad.
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