Sirena by Donna Jo Napoli

Title: Sirena

Author: Donna Jo Napoli

Publisher: Scholastic 1998

Genre: Myths and Fairy Tales

Pages: 210

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Telling Tales; A to Z: N; Support Your Local Library

How I Got It: Library loan

In Donna Jo Napoli’s beautiful prose, the tragic love story between a mermaid and a mortal comes to life for young readers. When Sirena meets Philoctetes, Hercules’ friend, she falls in love. But the young warrior must return home to fight the Trojan War and leave his magical love behind.

A retelling of the classic mermaid/siren myths of Ancient Greece.  I loved that Sirena is a mermaid who does not act like a human.  Too many times mermaids act like humans with fish tales.  Thankfully we see a very different being in this story.  Napoli’s words read like poetry.  They flow almost like the currents of the ocean.  My only issue is with Philoctetes himself.  He’s not a very good hero and I’m not very attracted to him.  Yet, I understand Sirena’s need for love and belonging.  And it’s that need that kept me reading.  Now I need to check out Napoli’s other retellings.

  

 

Fish Out of Water by MaryJanice Davidson

Title: Fish Out of Water

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Publisher: Jove Books 2008

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 270

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; March Fantasy Month; A to Z Titles: F

The conclusion to Fredrika the Mermaid’s story was a fun read for the day.  During the second book, I was concerned about the direction of the love story.  Thankfully, the love story righted itself and ended well.  A fun fantasy with a failed royal coup and the appearance of long-thought-dead relatives.  I really enjoyed reading Fred’s journey out in the open.  Now, I really think it’s time to move on to something a bit more deep…. (wait for the next review, you’ll get the joke)

Fred the Mermaid

1. Sleeping with the Fishes
2. Swimming without a Net
3. Fish Out of Water

 

Swimming without a Net by MaryJanice Davidson

Title: Swimming without a Net

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Publisher: Jove Books 2007

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 271

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; March Fantasy Month

Another fun breezy read.  This one focusing on Frederika Bimm’s introduction into the Undersea Folks’ world.  It was interesting to see how she attempted to fit into the Undersea Folks with the discussion of her background and her bio-dad.  And the addition of some new characters like Tennian and King Mekkam breathed new life into the story.  Read in a day… not too memorable, but a good rainy day’s read.

Fred the Mermaid

1. Sleeping with the Fishes
2. Swimming without a Net
3. Fish Out of Water

 

Sleeping with the Fishes by MaryJanice Davidson

Title: Sleeping with the Fishes

Author: MaryJanice Davidson

Publisher: Jove Books 2006

Genre: Fantasy

Pages: 268

Rating: 4 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Support Your Local Library; March Fantasy Month

Fun book.  Reminded me of Davidson’s Alaskan Royal Family series.  Lighthearted most of the time, a cute love story, a steamy sex scene (one and not even involving the man character) and a sort of wrap-up.  A fun, distracting read for a icky day.  Davidson is definitely a go-to author of light breezy entertaining reads.

There’s not a whole lot to say about the book, but I did enjoy it.  Of course there are two more books in this series.  And I have both from the library.  So, guess what I’m reading next?  Yep, next up is Swimming without a Net.

Fred the Mermaid

1. Sleeping with the Fishes
2. Swimming without a Net
3. Fish Out of Water