Review: The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Anne Noble

Title: The Mermaid's Sister

Author: Carrie Anne Noble

Publisher:  Skyscape

Release Date: March 1, 2015

There is no cure for being who you truly are...

In a cottage high atop Llanfair Mountain, sixteen-year-old Clara lives with her sister, Maren, and guardian Auntie. By day, they gather herbs for Auntie’s healing potions. By night, Auntie spins tales of faraway lands and wicked fairies. Clara’s favorite story tells of three orphan infants—Clara, who was brought to Auntie by a stork; Maren, who arrived in a seashell; and their best friend, O’Neill, who was found beneath an apple tree.

One day, Clara discovers shimmering scales just beneath her sister’s skin. She realizes that Maren is becoming a mermaid—and knows that no mermaid can survive on land. Desperate to save her, Clara and O’Neill place the mermaid-girl in their gypsy wagon and set out for the sea. But no road is straight, and the trio encounters trouble around every bend. Ensnared by an evil troupe of traveling performers, Clara and O’Neill must find a way to save themselves and the ever-weakening mermaid.

And always, in the back of her mind, Clara wonders, if my sister is a mermaid, then what am I?

As one of my free ebooks from my amazon prime membership, I thought this book looked absolutely adorable.  And I was not disappointed.  Carrie Anne Noble's debut novel is a wonderful fantasy set in the real world with magic and faeries, wyverns and dragons, and obviously enough, mermaids.

The Mermaid's Sister started out a little bit slow, mostly going through Maren's transition into a mermaid.  But eventually the adventure and love story began.  I soon found myself disliking Maren, finding her selfish and conceited.  And I suppose that was how it was was meant.  Poor Clara.  Forgotten and not a beautiful mermaid.  I just absolutely loved Clara.  She was everything a strong female character should be: charming, real, flawed, honest, and selfless.

There were times when I thought the magic in this world always seemed a bit too happy.  For example: faeries are wonderful, mermaids are wonderful, a pet wyvern, the possibility of turning into a stork and flying away.  But soon it is learned by Clara that there is a much darker side to magic in the world.  Mermaids aren't all they seem.  Faeries can be nice and they always tell the truth, but there could be a lie hidden in the truth.  And there are also dark faeries and evil people in the world.

This was a wonderful read and would be perfect for younger readers who are just getting interested in reading.

So what did I think? I think this book was absolutely adorable.  I loved it for a younger reader and I would probably read it again.