Dark Water by Tricia Raybrun

Publication Date: Came out in July 2012

Series: Siren (bk. 3)

Genera(s): Paranormal Romance

Subjects: sirens, supernatural, mythology, small towns, ocean, murder, mystery, summer

Setting: Winter Harbor, Maine

POV/Tense: 1^st person POV, past tense: Vanessa Sands

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 362 pgs.

HC/PB: Now in Paperback

List Price: $9.99

Publisher: Egmont

Summary/ product description: “When seventeen-year-old Vanessa reunites with her biological mother, she faces the dilemma of a siren's existence, that in order to survive she must endanger the lives of those she loves most.”

My Review:  After a few years of waiting, I finally finish this series by reading Undercurrent and Dark Water back-to-back. The first book, Siren, took place in Winter Harbor, the sequel, Undercurrent was mostly set in Boston, but they went back to Winter Harbor a few times. Dark Water, the finally, is almost exclusively in Winter Harbor and like the first book, it’s summertime.

The setting plays a major role in this book. There’s nothing as fun as a summertime story set in a seaside town. Of course, the people of Winter Harbor haven’t exactly been having fun this summer. Last summer’s freak events have kept tourists from coming to their town and the economy is down. Betty’s is practically empty and Paige is trying to come up with ideas to bring more people in. Vanessa works as a hostess there again.

Vanessa’s parents are selling their lake house and buying a house close to the ocean. Since her parent now know about Vanessa’s siren heritage, they’re doing whatever they can to help her, like letting her go for nighttime swim or adding salt into her food and drinks. Her mother acts a little overbearing and obsessively decorates their new summer home. Then murders start happening again. This time women instead of men are a dying. The town freaks outs. Vanessa’s parents are freaked to and not thrilled about staying in Winter Harbor anymore.

On top of that, Vanessa’s real mom, Charlotte, shows up. She looks aged and week. She’s there to see Vanessa and tell her some things, and then want to go to Canada to visit other sirens. Also, Vanessa is trying to repair her relationship with Simon, who’s the only guy her powers don’t affect. She loves him, but he’s hurt after last year. Vanessa also learns other way to gain power, by contact with other men and using her inner voice.

I have loved the character of this series. I love that Simon’s a bit of a science geek. Vanessa reminds me a lot of Nora from Hush, Hush. Paige is a funny best friend character. She reminds me a little of Arianne from Fallen. This series is sometimes dark and atmospheric. It feels like a horror or thriller mystery at times. It reminds me a lot of the Hush, Hush series. It’s also got Siren mythology, which is cool. I definitely recommend this series to fans of Becca Fitzapatrick, Kimberly Derting, and Lauren Kate. It’s set in Maine. It’s paranormal. It’s amazing. I wish Tricia Rayburn would write more paranormal books like this series.

Cover Art Review: I like the cover except the title being in black.