Review: Fathomless by Jackson Pearce

Genre: Fairy Tales | Mermaids

Synopsis:

Celia Reynolds is the youngest in a set of triplets and the one with the least valuable power. Anne can see the future, and Jane can see the present, but all Celia can see is the past. And the past seems so insignificant--until Celia meets Lo. 

Lo doesn't know who she is, or who she was. Once a human, she is now almost entirely a creature of the sea--a nymph, an ocean girl, a mermaid--all terms too pretty for the soulless monster she knows she's becoming. Lo clings to shreds of her former self, fighting to remember her past, even as she's tempted to embrace her dark immortality.

When a handsome boy names Jude falls off a pier and into the ocean, Celia and Lo work together to rescue him from the waves. The two form a friendship, but soon they find themselves competing for Jude's affection, Lo wants more than that, though. According to the ocean girls, there's only one way for the Lo to earn back her humanity. She must persuade a mortal to love her...and steal his soul. 

Review:

Jackson Pearce amazed me once again with her unique story-telling. She has such an amazing talent for capturing the essence of fairy tales and making them something new. Fathomless is a retelling of the famous story The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson. I loved the combination of the mermaids and the three sisters, who remind me of the Fates in Greek mythology. 

Normally I don't care for the double perspective, but Jackson made it work. It worked in Sisters Red and it worked in Fathomless. I loved her descriptions of the ocean. She made it so ark and mysterious. Even the mermaids reflected the vast darkness of the deep water. This was not your typical Disney fairy tale. These mermaids are mindless creatures that kill for the hope of stealing a human's soul to become an angel. Once becoming a mermaid these girls lose all touch with their humanity and memories. It is only by returning to the shore that they can begin to regain their past lives. 

Celia was the typical third sister that doesn't feel as if she good enough in comparison to her sisters. She feels out of place and lonely. The narrative between Celia and Lo has multiple layers of complexity that really add dimension to the plot. I especially liked the subtle ties from the previous books. I can really see how the stories are beginning to intertwine. 

My only complaint is that there was almost too much angst. It started from the first page and didn't end. I didn't feel like that angst was fully resolved by the end; however, this is a continuing series so I expect that I will have that in the next installment. 

Overall, Fathomless rose to my expectations. I love this series. Jackson definitely delivered once again.

Rating: 4 out of 5 owls

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Reviews: Sisters Red | Sweetly

Book Release: Fathomless by Jackson Pearce

Fathomless was released on 9/04 this month and I can't wait to read it. Jackson Pearce's novels Sisters Red and Sweetly are amazing, so I have high expectations for the third installation in the series. 

Synopsis: Celia Reynolds is the youngest in a set of triplets, and the one with the least valuable power, Anne can see the future, Jane can see the present--therefore essentially read minds--and all Celia can do is see the past.

Lo doesn't know who she is or who she was. Once a human, she is now almost entirely a creature of the sea--an undine, a nymph, a mermaid; all terms too pretty for the soulless creature she knows she's becoming. The other ocean girls, her "sisters," tell her there's only one way for her to earn her soul and humanity back--convince a mortal to love her, and steal his.  

Lo thinks a soul is within her grasp when she saves a guitarist, Jude, from drowning. When Celia intervenes, she accidentally reads Lo's past, calling out Lo's long-forgotten human name. The two forge a friendship, meeting by the shore to remember Lo's old life, to talk, to share secrets they'd never tell their "real" sisters.

Yet, remembering makes Lo more desperate than ever for a soul--and despite Jude's blossoming romance with Celia, she can't resist longing for his. Straddling the line between humanity and darkness, Lo struggles to find her place on either side, while Celia wonders just what she and her power have unleashed. But the sister you choose can be more powerful than those you're born with--in a fight against Lo's sisters and the waves themselves, Jude and Celia risk their lives to save Lo from her own darkness. But it is a soulless, wanting existence better than none at all?

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Review: Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Genre: Fantasy | Fairy Tales

Synopsis:

Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris—the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend—but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

Review:

I've mentioned this before on my review of Sweetly, but I have to say it again--Jackson Pearce is a genius and a brilliant story teller. Her imagery is beautifully horrific, the characters are intriguing, and the story is a unique twist on a classic fairy tale. Sisters Red is a perfect blend of mystery, adventure, and romance. 

Jackson had me hooked from start to finish. I have very few negative things to say, and those are merely preferences rather than anything negative about the writing. First off--I'm not a fan of foul language, though I understand that some things just can't adequately be conveyed without it. The F-bomb is used about 3-4 times, so be warned. However, I would like to say that while I did not appreciate it, the story was still superb. The other aspect I did not appreciate was how Silas kissed both sisters. It's just one of those stupid jerk moves that just irks me. Still love Silas, though. The last nuance that typically annoys me, but was so masterfully incorporated that I quickly got over it, was the dual points of view. I don't like switching between two different perspectives. It's annoying and distracting. Yet, I have to admit that Jackson has a seamless transition that reflects the relationship between Scarlett and Rosie. 

So, while there are several aspects that usually irk me past the point of acceptance, Jackson's writing is so ensnaring that I can live with them. I love that I kept finding myself surprised.  By the end I kept thinking "wow, this book was so good."

Rating: 5 out of 5 owls

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Review: Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

Genre: Fairy Tales

Synopsis:

As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too.

Years later, when their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak, South Carolina. They're invited to stay with Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds sugary magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.

Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past — until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel. He tells her the witch isn't gone — it's lurking in the forest, preying on girls every year after Live Oak's infamous chocolate festival, and looking to make Gretchen its next victim. Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is.

Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry.

Review:

Where was this novel during college when I wrote my dissertation on the sacrifice motif in fairy tales? To put it bluntly, this novel is wonderful. From the first sentence I was hooked. I could not put Sweetly down. Not only did the subtle references to motifs and themes common to traditional fairy tales tickle my love for folklore, but Pearce's descriptions of the painful torment of losing a sibling--a twin--are heart wrenching. The reader cannot help but become emotionally attached to Gretchen. Once again, I appreciate the maturity of the protagonist, Gretchen, and her brother Ansel. Gretchen and Ansel have a strong sense of reason and adult maturity that tells of  life quickly thrust into adulthood. 

Pearce's interpretation of the age-old tale of Hansel and Gretel combines the supernatural elements of pagan influenced folklore with the beliefs and customs of modern society. These supernatural elements are tastefully subtle and add mystery to the plot. Perhaps my favorite aspect of the novel is the somewhat tragic ending. I love the "what goes around comes around" finale. This novel is definitely one that I will enjoy reading again and again.

Rating: 5 out of 5 owls

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