The Vast and Brutal Sea by Zoraida Cordova

Series: The Vicious Deep (bk. 3)

Genera(s): Paranormal Romance/Fantasy Adventure

Subjects: adventure, magic, magical creatures, merfolk, mermaids, mermen, mythology, supernatural,

Setting: Coney Island, New York and in the Atlantic ocean

POV/Tense: 1^st person POV, present tense: Tristan Hart

Age/Grade Level: Teen

Length: 317 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $16.99

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Summary/ product description: “This epic clash of sand and sea will pit brother against brother-and there can only be one winner

In two days, the race for the Sea Court throne will be over-but all the rules have changed. The sea witch, Nieve, has kidnapped Layla and is raising an army of mutant sea creatures to overthrow the crown. Kurt, the one person Tristan could depend on in the battle for the Sea King's throne, has betrayed him. Now Kurt wants the throne for himself. Tristan has the Scepter of the Earth, but it's not enough. He'll have to travel to the mysterious, lost Isle of Tears and unleash the magic that first created the king's powerful scepter. It's a brutal race to the finish, and there can only be one winner.”

My Review:  What and interesting and adventurous ending! Tristan and his friends must bring the pieces of Triton’s trident/scepter together and defeat the silver mermaid Nieve. He, Nieve and Kurt are after the throne. Kurt is also being manipulated somewhat and now wants to kill Tristan. Nieve of course want to rule the seas. I had a hard time remembering what happened in the previous books so I was lost for a while.

The first part of the book was really interesting and pretty different from the rest of the series. Tristan arrives at an island where the river tribe lives. He also finds Dylan, Brendan and Kai there. Time move differently there, it’s many days on the island before a day in the real world passes. The river tribes were not merpeople, but could turn into water. The leader was a woman and she was nice to Tristan, but secretive. One girl named Yara helped Tristan. He is given a task to defeat a creature called the Naga and he is given some training. Something happens and when he leaves the island, he has another addition to his group.

Tristan meets with more oracles and searches for answers in unexpected places. His circle of friends and followers grows and he gather’s a sorta-army to fight Nieve and her merrows. He gathers land locked merpeople, vampires, demon and other creatures living in New York City. His shape shifter friend Marty helps too. There’s fun along the way, including underground speed dating (hilarious) and a giant turtle.

This series has been fun and crazy. It may not be my favorite mermaid/merman series, but I really enjoyed the narrator and the humor. I love the mix of paranormal creatures too. There’s a touch of romance between Layla and Tristan. The action, adventure, magic and mythology. I’d definitely recommend the Vicious Deeps series to fans of Percy Jackson and The Olympians and Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown.

Cover Art Review: I love the big crystal scepter. It does look like quartz, but not the usually crystal structure. Way too pointy. The cover work well with the previous books’ covers. 

The Savage Blue by Zoraida Cordova

Series: The Vicious Deep (bk. 2)

Genera: Paranormal Romance/Fantasy adventure

Subjects: supernatural, mythology, mermaids, merfolk, ocean, magic, New York, adventure

Age/Grade Level: Teen 13+ (okay for 11-12)

Length: 405 pgs.

HC/PB: Hardcover

List Price: $16.99

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Summary/ product description: “A storm is coming...
The ocean is a vicious place. Deeper and darker than Tristan could have imagined. Beneath its calm blue surface, an ancient battle is churning —and no one is safe.
In the quest for the Sea Throne, Tristan has already watched one good friend die. Now he must lead the rest on a dangerous voyage in search of the trident that will make him king. But while Tristan chases his destiny, the dark forces racing against him are getting stronger, and the sea witch of his nightmares is getting closer.
Battling sea dragons and savage creatures of the deep, Tristan needs his friends' support. But they each have their secrets, and a betrayal will force Tristan to choose between his crown and his best friend Layla — the only girl he's ever loved.”

My Rating: êêê

My Review: I think I would have enjoyed this more if I didn’t read the last book in one of my favorite series before this. After that book, it’s hard to compete. I remember that I liked the 1^st book. I gave it four stars. Here’s a bit of my review of The Vicious Deep:

“This book was very entertaining. It reminded me a bit of the Percy Jackson series, only no camp and no demi-gods. Merfolk, and various other creatures. It’s really cool to read a mermaid book from a guy’s perspective when the guy just so happens to be half merman. There was lots of humor in Tristan’s voice, tons of amazing quotes.”

In this book, there is a demi-god named Rachel, and some oracles, a vampire, a shapeshifter and whole lot of different magical creatures. The author really created a diverse magical world. Somehow I became confused and couldn’t remember who some people were in the beginning. I hardly could remember what happened in the previous book, but after a while I could remember some stuff. It’s just the author did not do a good job of recapping what happened previously. I felt a bit lost. And the plot was all over the place too. I had no clue what was going on in some part.

The reason why I still gave it three stars is because I love the main character and his narration. I love the humor and the Percy Jackson similarities, and merman stuff. I love the side characters, Layla, and Kurt. Some of the characters are well developed, but not all of them. But still they don’t seem to develop any further. Tristan becomes very unsure of himself rather than the cocky guy in the first book. A lot of the book was just pure fun, and that’s why I got through it. The confusion was definitely a bad set back though.

There was still a lot of action and a few major twists. I loved the twist in part three, about the true heir. There was adventure and the Championship to become the Sea King, and looking for the other trident pieces. There wasn’t much romance. There was a little swearing, but I think it’s still okay for younger teens. Overall, it’s a fun read. I suggest reading/re-reading the Vicious Deep right before starting this so you don’t feel lost. I recommend this to anyone who like mermaid/man books or mythology YA like Percy Jackson and the Olympians.

Cover Art Review: Just as cool as the 1^st book’s cover. I like the colors and title treatment. The crown is pretty awesome and all the waves, lightning and clouds.

 

~Haley G