Well, Hello Everyone!
I hope everyone is having a fantastic summer!
Today, I am reviewing
(Cover Photo provided by GoodReads)
Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
Publisher: Random House
Publication Date: June 12th, 2012
Source: Netgallery and Random House Children's Books
Rating: 2.5 STARS
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At first glance, Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown has an exciting premise. A male merman point of view out for revenge with his sisters. He is out to infiltrate a relationship with the daughter of his target, Lily, and begins to fall in love her her. A star-crossed relationship has always been a favorite romantic development of mind. I love the drama its ensues, the shifts of alliances and the struggles to realize who to trust and remain loyal to.
Sadly Lies Beneath was a hard book for me to read through. It took several weeks
of on and off reading for me to finally finish this book.
I decided to request this book
because I wanted to see if I would mind how Calder already was working on not
killing humans before the novel even began. I found that while I minded that
fact, what really caused me to struggle through this book was my lack of
ability to connect to the story at all. I spent my time reading this book without the usual passionate energy that usually flows through me as I
read a book. I felt like I was sitting in an empty room, bored with the lack of
excitement. Calder was not an exciting character to me and the plot was slow and disjointed, full of plot holes. The reason for the revenge was incomplete, I was indifferent to the romance tingling between Calder and Lily and did not care much for a very sad event that occurred in the end of the book. If I really find a book interesting, I will always feeling uneasy and morose for a tragic event.
I may have found that I lacked
connection with the story, but the overall theme of happiness being important
to gain through one's inner self is an important theme that I often forget. I
am glad I was reminded of this life lesson in this book. This lesson is shone
through Calder and his mermaid sisters killing humans so they could have their
happiness. Lily and the rest of the Hancock family amplify the fact that
happiness is through love and acceptance of oneself.
Overall, I suggest that if you want
to try Lies Beneath, that you borrow it at the library first. You might be able to connect to its story and I hope you do.
Thanks for reading!
Taking that long to get through a book is never a good sign, right? I'm generally iffy about mermaid books so I think I did a good thing in passing up on this book.
ReplyDeleteGreat, honest review, hun!
I absolutely love the idea off this book, and that cover is enough to draw anyone in! But it's such a shame that you didn't connect with the characters or feel the romance. ): I think I'd still give this a go, but maybe-- as you suggests-- borrowing it rather than buying.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a wonderful review nonetheless, Rachel!(:
I already knew I wasn't going to read this, but your review just served to convince me further of it. I'm not a fan of mermaids, and especially mermen, to begin with and this never sounded like something I'd enjoy. The fact that you weren't really able to connect is proof enough that I was right. And I do love being right, lol.
ReplyDeleteWonderful review, Rachel! Thank you.
I just skimmed your review because I just bought it from YA Fest and whenever I read a negative review of a book I'm going to read soon, I always end up noticing those things in the book so now I'm slapping my head and trying to forget what I read ;) But from what I did read I'm sorry you didn't really enjoy it :(
ReplyDeleteLOL! That's why I try not to read reviews of books I know I'm going to read before I get to them. I also don't read reviews of books that I plan to review until after my review is done because I don't want to subconsciously spout off someone else's thoughts that I read lol
DeleteI think this might just fall in the same basket as most of the mermaid books I read. Thanks for the honest review, Rachel. Your experience with this sounds similar to a book I finished recently; no matter what, I just couldn't connect with the story. I hope you next read is better! :)
ReplyDeleteI had similar issues with this one Rachel! The premise is so exciting and dark, and then Calder seemed to be able to resist the killing instinct so easily that there just wasn't any tension. I was never worried he was going to hurt her. Maybe the next book will improve upon this one!
ReplyDeleteI am not a huge fan of mermaid stories but I did really like the make POV in this one.
ReplyDeleteNice review!
I am a new follower!!
http://myguiltyobsession.blogspot.com/
I've heard many mixed reviews about this. I guess if I decide to take it out, I'll take it out from the library. Thanks for your honest review. :)
ReplyDeleteAww, I'm so sorry this one didn't work out for you! I've heard a lot of mixed reviews of this one and have more or less decided that it just isn't a novel for me. I did hear that Monstrous Beauty was an excellent mermaid novel, so perhaps you should check that one out when it releases! Anyway, thanks for the honest review Rachel! :)
ReplyDelete~Keertana
Ivy Book Bindings
It's so hard to enjoy a story if you can't connect with the characters or story. While I had some issues with this one too, overall I enjoyed it. Great review Rachel :)
ReplyDeleteI couldn't really get into this one either...I normally love mermaid books. it was a nice idea, but it didn't work. Great review :)
ReplyDeleteAww, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy this book, Rachel! I read mixed reviews on this one, so I decided to pass it for now. This sounds like a book with forgetta characters for me! But maybe I'll give it a shot someday, just because I'm curious with all the mermaid thing. <3
ReplyDeleteFantabulous review, hun! <3
Oh no. Looks like I'm in the minority here (possibly the minority of one?). I actually really enjoyed this book and I rated it four (out of five). I liked Lily, I'm always down for a mermaid book, and I like mermen POVs lol. I liked the darkness and the sort of gothic (as in the 19th century kind) romance feel to the whole story.
ReplyDeleteStill, I like your review and it's important to read a bunch of different opinions whether it's before or after reading the book. I'm glad that you pointed out the whole happiness thing. I found that intriguing.