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REVIEW: Between the Sea and the Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

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Description

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren–the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn’t seen since childhood–a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

About the Author

JACLYN DOLAMORE’s first book was Magic Under Glass. She spent her childhood reading as many books as she could lug home from the library and playing elaborate pretend games with her sister. She has a passion for history, thrift stores, vintage dresses, David Bowie, drawing, and organic food. She lives with her partner and two black tabbies.

www.jaclyndolamore.com

Details

  • Reading level: Young Adult
  • Hardcover: 240 pages
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens (October 25, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1599904349
  • ISBN-13: 978-1599904344

SOURCE:  AUTHOR

MY THOUGHTS
ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT

Esmerine has just turned 16 and becomes a siren which is a step up in the mer world and she looks forward to collecting tribute from ships with her sister, Dosinia.  Dosia, as she is nicknamed, doesn’t meet her sister at the rock where they are to work.  Esmerine becomes worried and discovers her sister has run away to live with a human mate.  While not unheard of, a mermaid who does this is considered dead to her family and Esmerine just can’t give up on her sister.  With her parent’s blessing she tries to discover her sister’s fate and hope for her happiness.  By accident, she finds her childhood friend, Alandare, who is a Faransee, a person who has wings and can fly, working in a book store owned by a former mermaid.  And books are key to this book!  When Esmerine first meets Alan as children he teaches her to read and write and she develops a love for books that becomes her driving force.

Alan helps Emerine track down her sister and you can sense the bond between the two.  It is much more than romance, but so sweetly done that you will be sad when this one ends.  I immediately liked Esmerine and Alan and the story between the two.  This just isn’t a mermaid tale, but one of young love filled with magic and light.  The world of humans, mermaids and humans intersecting so easily and believably will make you want to read more about it.  Dolamore creates a complete fairy tale in a no fuss way and the pacing is perfect.  I read this one straight through in a few hours and now I am waiting until her next book, Magic Under Stone is released.  Can’t we just force her to stay at her computer and write? 

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