I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
A phenomenal new YA adventure begins in author Bo Wu’s novel Mermaids Are Real: The Mystiq Prong. Here is the synopsis.
The Synopsis
“’Crabs talk?’ asked Benji.
‘Everything in nature speaks. Not everything in nature listens,’ said Octavius nodding Topside.”
Benji Fisher has spent the first twelve years of his life growing up in a small fishing town, Topside. He’s gotten used to the gang of dolphins who follow him on his surfboard and the voices he hears under the water; odd things that have, in their repetition, become part of normal everyday life.
However, none of that prepares him for the recruitment speech he gets from an octopus named Octavius and three of the dolphins the night before his thirteenth birthday.
What would you do if your ‘calling’ in life required you to take a leap/dive of faith? Would you take the plunge?
The Review
This was an incredibly original and unique take on the YA genre. Mermaids have been a constant source of mystery and intrigue in pop culture. Author Bo Wu has created a fabulous mythology not only for mermaids but for the entire ocean world. A world often taken for granted or ignored by humanity as a whole, the author did a wonderful job highlighting the beauty of the natural ocean world and the danger of our carelessness and ignorance of our impact on that world.
The characters drew you in immediately. From the bond between father and son duo Joe and protagonist Benji, to the mermaids and ocean life that Benji bonds with as he gets accustomed to his home world. This story played heavily on the fantasy/mythological side of the YA genre, and the result was a thrilling journey filled with untold danger, a mysterious new world and one of the most original settings in a YA novel this year.
The Verdict
Overall I loved this book. The story was filled with intricate details and characters that kept the reader pulled in the entire read, and made for an evenly paced read at that. The story does a marvelous job of creating a memorable villain and shocking twists that will change the narrative of the story several times. With a satisfying conclusion that leaves the possibility for future books open without leaving readers on a cliffhanger, I certainly hope we get to return to Aquari and explore Benji’s story more in future installments. If you haven’t yet be sure to grab your copy of Mermaids Are Real: The Mystiq Prong by Bo Wu today!
Rating: 10/10
Learn More About the Author At The Links Below
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40966179-mermaids-are-real