Secrets of the Deep by by Marisa Noelle

Release: 22 June 2020
Format: Ebook
Publisher: Independently Published
Source: Zooloos Book Tours
Find it at: Goodreads, Amazon

Cordelia Blue is afraid of water.

Cordelia is also a mermaid.

It’s been five years since she lost half her family to the ocean, and as the anniversary of their death approaches, Cordelia is determined to conquer her fear. But when she learns of her mermaid ancestry and all the devastating secrets the ocean brings, she no longer knows who she can trust.

Entrusted with a magical relic, she must keep it away from an opposing race, the selachii, and their nefarious intentions. When she discovers that her boyfriend is one of these mysterious shape-shifters, Cordelia is forced to choose between love and race.

Cordelia doubts her every decision and the intentions of those around her. Trusting her heart will lead to a path of betrayal, but she might just get her family back. If she chooses her head, the mermaids may stay cursed to remain in the ocean forever.

About the Author:

Marisa Noelle is the writer of middle grade & young adult novels in the genres of science-fiction, fantasy & mental health including The Shadow Keepers, The Unadjusteds Trilogy (The Unadjusteds, The Rise of the Altereds, & The Reckoning), and The Mermaid Chronicles – Secrets of the Deep.

She is a mentor for the Write Mentor program that helps aspiring MG & YA authors. With dual citizenship, Marisa has lived on both sides of the Atlantic and uses settings in both the USA and UK as inspiration for her novels.

When she’s not writing or reading or watching movies, she enjoys swimming. In the pool she likes to imagine she could be a mermaid and become part of some of her make-believe words.

Despite being an avid bookworm from the time she could hold a book, being an author came as a bit of a surprise to her as she was a bit of a science geek at school. She lives in Woking, UK with her husband and three children. You can find her on Twitter @MarisaNoelle77 or her website www.MarisaNoelle.com

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Secrets of the Deep Review:

I loved reading “Secrets of the Deep” and thought it was a wondering start to the “The Mermaid Chronicles” series.

Let’s begin with Cordy. I liked how the author portrayed the character and how she tried to sort out her feelings of grief and loss for her family and her romance with Wade. Wade was also a question mark initially because I didn’t know his intentions. The author wrote their dynamic cutely (albeit, at times, it felt a bit rushed), and I wondered how their relationship would survive once the secrets started coming out.

Secondly, I enjoyed how the author built the world of mermaids and selachiis, including the legend of Atlantis, with adventure and fantasy elements. The author has blended the myth of the mermaids yet created her unique world. Many moments stood out for me, like when Cordy has her first scare in the bathtub, what happens to Trent in the surfing competition, or when the group comes up with their action plan to set things right.

Thirdly, the cast of characters also made the story so entertaining. Trent and Dylan brought their charm, and I loved Maya, Trent, and Cordy as the trio of friends. While Maya might not have a significant role compared to others, I loved her fondness for Mermaids, and the various shark facts, prophecies, and other trivia she spoke. Perhaps the only very minor criticism is how the book is so fast at times that you don’t get a chance to see Cordy adjust to her feelings when something shocking happens in her life.

The story ends nicely and sets the pace for the next book, where you wonder what other adventures await our characters. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and am excited to see how it continues.