This book review is one close to my heart. I met Carrie Anne Noble at a writer’s conference about a year ago. We got into a discussion and when she mentioned she had authored this book, I got excited because I had seen it as a top book suggestion on Amazon! I love the subject of mermaids and had already decided I wanted to read the book. Carrie was able to tell me about the inspiration for this book, which gave me a deeper understanding of her heart behind the work.
The Mermaid’s Sister by Carrie Anne Noble
The Synopsis:
There is no cure for being who you truly are…
In a cottage high atop Llanfair Mountain, sixteen-year-old Clara lives with her sister, Maren, and guardian, Auntie. By day, they gather herbs for Auntie’s healing potions; by night, Auntie spins tales of faraway lands and wicked fairies. Clara’s favorite story tells of three orphan infants—Clara, who was brought to Auntie by a stork; Maren, who arrived in a seashell; and their best friend, O’Neill, who was found beneath an apple tree.
One day, Clara discovers shimmering scales just beneath her sister’s skin: Maren is becoming a mermaid and must be taken to the sea or she will die. So Clara, O’Neill, and the mermaid-girl set out for the shore. But the trio encounters trouble around every bend. Ensnared by an evil troupe of traveling performers, Clara and O’Neill must find a way to save themselves and the ever-weakening Maren.
And always in the back of her mind, Clara wonders, if my sister is a mermaid, then what am I?
The Review:
As I’ve stated before, I only review books with 5-Star ratings, so you can guess that I loved this book!
First off, Carrie is a fantastic writer. Her words have a poetic lean to them, and there were moments where I re-read a passage just to let it soak in. She adds a subtle humor to the story that didn’t distract but that added to the depth of the characters.
O’Neill is the boy-next-door that every girl wants to fall for, but is by no means perfect. His imperfections are what makes him attractive and by mid-book, I was torn over which sister I wanted to see him end up with. Clara struggles with the same thing every teenage girl faces – her identity and where she fits in this world. Despite the supernatural bent to the story, I found it easy to relate to her troubles and confusion. The story took a surprising turn mid-way through with an unexpected twist.
Overall, I couldn’t put this book down. It had an even balance of fantasy, history and adventure. It was easy to get lost in the story and imagine myself as one of the characters. The Mermaid’s Sister is a YA fantasy novel appropriate for any age, an old fashioned fairytale that will help you get lost in a make-believe world.
Happy reading, friends!