Title: Into the Deep
Author: Missy Fleming
Published by: Fire and Ice Young Adult Books
Published: October 23, 2013
Arc courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
From Goodreads:
No one understands the fury of the ocean like Zoey.
Ten years ago, she lost her leg in a freak shark attack. The night after her sixteenth birthday, she has yet to accept her awkward prosthetic limb or the fact she will always be different. Wary of the sea, and its hidden threats, she ventures to a bonfire at the beach. She’s mesmerized by its awesome power, wondering what she ever had to fear, until a rogue wave sweeps her into the cool, salty water.
Zoey believed mermaids were creatures of legend, characters in silly children’s stories, but it’s hard to ignore the captivating tail that’s suddenly appeared, or the sense of finally being whole. She abandons her life on land in search of answers about who she really is and where she came from.
What she discovers is a kingdom full of intrigue and danger, as well as a royal father she never knew existed. Settling into her role as a mermaid princess, she learns her family is under attack, both on land and in the water. Raging storms swell up, threatening coastal cities, and sea levels rise practically overnight, endangering the lives of everyone she loves. Determined to stop the strange phenomena, Zoey becomes caught up in the race to track down what, or who, is responsible for the catastrophic events.
But, Zoey possesses another secret, one born of legend and more powerful than any mer or human can imagine.
My Thoughts:
I have only read a couple of other mermaid books before, so I was really happy to get a chance to read and review Into the Deep. The story follows sixteen year old, Zoey, who lost her leg in a shark attack when she was just a small child. Since then, she has been able to get by with a prosthetic leg. She's always felt like she didn't fit in with the other kids her age, but it wasn't just because he had a disability. One day when she was at the beach she discovered something very unique about herself.
During this time, strange things have been going on in the oceans. The water levels have risen so high that it's destroying the land by the beaches. Fish are also dying off at an accelerated rate, possibly do to how much the ocean temperatures are changing. Experts believe it is only the result of global warming. What they don't know is that these catastrophes are the result of something that they never could have imagined.
This was such a fun read! Once I picked up my kindle to start reading, I was surprised how far I had gotten in the story in such a short amount of time. I didn't find myself getting sidetracked or distracted, which is always a good thing. It was such an original mermaid tale.
First, I just want to say that Missy Flemming did such a beautiful job with all of her marine life descriptions. She really knew what she was talking about, and you could tell that she really did her research! While reading, I really felt like I was there in the ocean with Zoey, and I could really visualize the things that she was seeing. I especially liked how she described the fish, reefs, and the kelp forest. I also appreciate how the origins of the mer people were explained.
I also liked the main character, Zoey. She really was open to accepting who she was and although leery at first, was eager to take on her new responsibilities. I also liked that she wasn't quick to lose her connection with her human half, and was ready to fight for them as well.
I have to say that my favorite character from Into the Deep was...Xander! I felt like he stole the show. He was sweet, intelligent, kind, helpful, and he accepted Zoey for who she was from the very beginning. I was really rooting for the guy, er, merman. He and Zoey seemed to have a lot chemistry. I was not a fan of Nerio, and just didn't fall for him. I know he had his reasons, but I thought he was pretty judgmental and sulky. I just felt like he didn't have as much depth and personality as Xander did, although I did admire his work ethic and sense of duty.
I also found myself a little disappointed in Stavros. Although I admired that he was a patient and dedicated ruler, I was a bit sad that he seemed to have given up on his other daughter, Eustencia. Throughout the book, it seemed like he ignored and had very little interaction with her. I am not sure if this was because Zoey was now in the picture, but perhaps if he had more interaction with Eustencia, she would not be so quick to follow in her mother's footsteps?
Into the Deep ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, so I'm curious as to what will happen to the characters, and how Zoey will adapt to her new role. I hope there are more interactions with Xander as well. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a nice Young Adult book that centers around mermaids.
4 Stars
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