[2SM]⇒ Download Forbidden Tides eBook Kyla Stan

Forbidden Tides eBook Kyla Stan

Download As PDF : Forbidden Tides eBook Kyla Stan

Forbidden Tides eBook Kyla Stan

I love a good mermaid book, and when I got the opportunity to read an advance copy of Kyla Stan’s new book, Forbidden Tides, I took it. I had already read her YA werewolf novel, Poet Tongue, and some of the aspects of that book I enjoyed were its vivid descriptions of the natural setting and its strong message of conservation of nature. Oh yeah, and that book had a good plot and theme about finding one’s sense of belonging within a community. I wondered if she’d transport some of those themes into an underwater realm, and I’m happy to say that I wasn’t disappointed.

The story starts with a prologue occurring when main character Astrid Murphy was only a few years old. While at a beach celebration with her parents, a figure appears from the water and beckons to Astrid. Yes, it telegraphs a good chunk of the upcoming story, but it’s so well-written that I don’t mind knowing that early that Astrid is part Sirenia (Stan’s species name for the mermaids in this story)—after all, it is mentioned in the book description.

Jump ahead to Astrid when she’s eighteen years old and dismayed by her father’s coarse attitude and disgusted with his occupation. He has a lucrative business fishing for Sirenia; apparently, they’re a culinary delicacy. Though I agree with the message against hunting endangered species, and though I’m no vegan, I can understand the message of seeking healthier and/or more humane alternatives than eating meat. However, the eating of Sirenia can be interpreted as borderline cannibalism since they have human-like upper halves. Fortunately, this is only a side detail briefly mentioned and never shown.

The majority of the story deals with Astrid coming to terms with her true heritage, a Sirenia male named Zander tasked with finding his dying king’s heir, and the interconnected history between the two stories and Astrid’s parents on land. I’m not going to spoil the details, but some of them are easily spotted and others are hidden well. There are some fun fish-out-of-water moments as Zander comes to land looking for Astrid. And there are some tense interactions between Astrid and her father. For the most part, the story is solid.

My only issues with the story are that I think it rushed to its conclusion and some elements needed for that conclusion seem to come out of nowhere—without saying much, I’m talking about Astrid adapting to her role among the Sirenia and Zander’s fate near the ending. The novel reads at a relatively quick pace, so it wouldn’t be hard to plant a few necessary seeds for the ending to flow better earlier or to slow down some events at the ending. Also, the epilogue is a fantastic idea concerning Astrid’s younger brother, but it would be more meaningful if he had had a greater role earlier in the story. But I guess when the criticism is that you want more, it’s a lot better than wanting there to be less.

Because what’s there is good. Like her previous novel, Kyla does a great job describing the wonder of nature. And her mermaid world is different from some others I’ve read, so that’s a welcome touch. For its interesting characters, strong imagery, and some clearly thought-out themes, you should dive into Forbidden Tides, which I give FOUR STARS.


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Forbidden Tides eBook Kyla Stan Reviews

I was completely taken by this beautifully written story that when I reached the end I was completely unprepared to say goodbye. The weaving of land and sea was enthralling and the story of lost love and new love was simply enchanting. This is a story that I will reread over and over again throughout the coming years. I enjoyed it so much that I ordered a paperback copy!!

{I requested a copy for reviewing purposes and made no guarantee of a favorable review. The opinions expressed herein are unbiased and my own.}
*All of my reviews are voluntarily written*

Astrid has known all of her life that something is different about her, other than her webbed hands, crazy thirst for water, and extreme sensitivity to the heat and sun. It's not too long after the beginning that Astrid finds out she was right – she actually belongs to the merfolk and is destined to become the next clan leader.

With this knowledge, a whole world is opened up to her, but it's in danger. Over fishing, water pollution, and human greed have pushed the merfolk to extremely dangerous levels. Astrid has some challenges and has to also deal with her growing feelings for Zander.

I felt like the pacing in this book was better than in Poet Tongue, the other book written by this author. I was able to relate to the main character abit more, and it felt a little better easing into things.

I don't know if this is a standalone book, or a series, but I'm hoping that maybe someday in the future there is another book! Maybe a spinoff?!
Even though it would seem that "mermaid" is a universal character, there's much that's not canon about life beneath the waves, and it leaves so much to the individual author's imagination that each mermaid story ends up with unique twists and explanations for how mermaids survive, speak to one another, and travel on dry land (if they can.)

Kyla Stan has created one such unique world. FORBIDDEN TIDES is an engaging mermaid fantasy, where the myths of Selkies and Mermaids are twisted together and set on the California coast. Danger, greed, suspense and light romance weave together with a strong environmental message to create an interesting tale.

The main character, Astrid, is obviously a half breed, although she doesn't know it and it's unclear for most of the book whether her mother is a mermaid or not. (The mom does seem to know an awful lot she's not sharing....) Astrid's father is the greedy monster who gets rich by catching and killing mermaids to sell for their "pelts" and as specialty food. He also routinely cuts the webbing from between Astrid's fingers. He doesn't want her to ever know of her close connection to the ocean or to the underwater creatures he now hunts.

Zander is the merman given the mission to find Astrid and bring her back to the clan before they die off from over-hunting and pollution. He doesn't expect to fall in love with her, or to end up spending time on dry land with her and her human family. He certainly doesn't expect her to love him back.

And it gets more complicated from there.

Told in alternating points of view between Zander and Astrid, the book also has a disturbing amount of head hopping and omniscient narrator going on. The author also describes a few merfolk feeding frenzies that makes their race sound downright scary. Even scarier are Astrid's father and the other fishermen, bloodthirsty and driven by greed, as well as the directors at the local aquarium, who decide it's easier to study the mer-creatures when they're dead. Rather than embrace this new race and try to learn about them, everyone acts like they're fish. Animals. Less than.

The book is an odd mix of light ocean imagery and banter, and soul-wrenching darkness. Mermaid lovers will enjoy this unique take on our favorite underwater paranormals.
I love a good mermaid book, and when I got the opportunity to read an advance copy of Kyla Stan’s new book, Forbidden Tides, I took it. I had already read her YA werewolf novel, Poet Tongue, and some of the aspects of that book I enjoyed were its vivid descriptions of the natural setting and its strong message of conservation of nature. Oh yeah, and that book had a good plot and theme about finding one’s sense of belonging within a community. I wondered if she’d transport some of those themes into an underwater realm, and I’m happy to say that I wasn’t disappointed.

The story starts with a prologue occurring when main character Astrid Murphy was only a few years old. While at a beach celebration with her parents, a figure appears from the water and beckons to Astrid. Yes, it telegraphs a good chunk of the upcoming story, but it’s so well-written that I don’t mind knowing that early that Astrid is part Sirenia (Stan’s species name for the mermaids in this story)—after all, it is mentioned in the book description.

Jump ahead to Astrid when she’s eighteen years old and dismayed by her father’s coarse attitude and disgusted with his occupation. He has a lucrative business fishing for Sirenia; apparently, they’re a culinary delicacy. Though I agree with the message against hunting endangered species, and though I’m no vegan, I can understand the message of seeking healthier and/or more humane alternatives than eating meat. However, the eating of Sirenia can be interpreted as borderline cannibalism since they have human-like upper halves. Fortunately, this is only a side detail briefly mentioned and never shown.

The majority of the story deals with Astrid coming to terms with her true heritage, a Sirenia male named Zander tasked with finding his dying king’s heir, and the interconnected history between the two stories and Astrid’s parents on land. I’m not going to spoil the details, but some of them are easily spotted and others are hidden well. There are some fun fish-out-of-water moments as Zander comes to land looking for Astrid. And there are some tense interactions between Astrid and her father. For the most part, the story is solid.

My only issues with the story are that I think it rushed to its conclusion and some elements needed for that conclusion seem to come out of nowhere—without saying much, I’m talking about Astrid adapting to her role among the Sirenia and Zander’s fate near the ending. The novel reads at a relatively quick pace, so it wouldn’t be hard to plant a few necessary seeds for the ending to flow better earlier or to slow down some events at the ending. Also, the epilogue is a fantastic idea concerning Astrid’s younger brother, but it would be more meaningful if he had had a greater role earlier in the story. But I guess when the criticism is that you want more, it’s a lot better than wanting there to be less.

Because what’s there is good. Like her previous novel, Kyla does a great job describing the wonder of nature. And her mermaid world is different from some others I’ve read, so that’s a welcome touch. For its interesting characters, strong imagery, and some clearly thought-out themes, you should dive into Forbidden Tides, which I give FOUR STARS.