Syrenka Series Tour: Promises -a Review + Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on this tour – I will be reviewing all 3 books, however, today, it’s only a review of Promises (book 1).  Please click on the image above to be taken to the tour’s page with tour schedules.

Promises (The Syrenka Series #1) by Amber Garr

Book Blurb

Sometimes following your heart can end up destroying the ones you love.

When seventeen-year-old Eviana Dumahl is faced with the responsibility of an arranged marriage and clan leadership, she is forced to choose between the life required of a mermaid and one of a teenage girl simply infatuated with the wrong guy. Kain, her devoted fiancé, would make a wonderful husband except that she’s been in love with Brendan, a shape-shifting selkie, ever since they were kids. Choosing to abandon her family, her clan, and her life with Kain will have dire consequences far beyond anything she could have imagined.

A war is brewing amongst the clans and Eviana unwittingly becomes a pawn in the intricate schemes of a twisted mastermind. With Brendan’s life on the line, she has no choice but to involve those she once considered friends. Amidst encountering senseless tragedies and immense loss, Eviana discovers that she is more valuable as a clan leader than anyone ever suspected. Her survival is not only dependent upon the loyalty of her friends, but also on her acceptance of a life she so adamantly tried to escape.

My Blurb (3 of 5 stars)

I’m pleased to read this book as it is my first mermaid book and it was a wonderful experience.  I love that events unfolded one right after the other and twists were un-ending.  I don’t particularly know what to expect from a mermaid book; as in there are certain thing I’d expect of a vampire / werewolves but aside from tails and being able to swim like a fish, I’d have no idea what to expect in terms of power, race protocols / cultures, etc.  So, it was a fascinating read into another world of mythical sea creatures.

Unfortunately, it was also a very painful read for me.  Just because I’m rooting for the other guy!  Now, I know what those in Team Jacob (Twilight) or Team Gale (Hunger Games) feel!!  And it’s just awful L  In saying that, I want to continue reading the series in the hopes that something (not necessarily them ending up together) will make me feel better about this book / series.

Whilst I found the story to have many interesting layers, I found most characters to be under-develop or nearly invisible to me.  The book focused so much on Eviana Dumahl that all others were just props; just visible in the background.  Maybe this is because this is the first book in the series so hopefully we’ll get to see a lot more of other characters in the next books.

I am a little conservative in my star rating as I did truly enjoy the story & the Syrenka world but am still in anguish over whom Eviana chose.  Nevertheless, she grew up pretty much overnight into a powerful tough and determined Syrenka so I’m really interested as to how she will perform next.  I reserve the right to cheer for the other team ;p

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About Author

Amber Garr spends her days conducting scientific experiments and wondering if her next door neighbor is secretly a vampire. Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Florida with her husband and their furry kids. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell. She writes both adult and young adult urban fantasies and when not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.

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Giveaways

Tour-wide Giveaway includes Signed copies of all 3 books with a surprise Swag, Enter Rafflecopter.

In addition, for visiting my blog, there is also a giveaway of 1 ecopy of this series (your choice as to which book you’d like).  However, as I can’t host Rafflecopter on WordPress, please Enter Rafflecopter on my FB page.