Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Review: Of Triton

OF TRITON
Of Poseidon #2
Anna Banks
Paranormal Young Adult
256 pages
Feiwel & Friends
Available Now
Source: ARC from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Amazon)
Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she's a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm. Syrena law states all Half-Breeds should be put to death.

As if that's not bad enough, her mother's reappearance in the Syrena world turns the two kingdoms--Poseidon and Triton--against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen's request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself--and her Gift--to save a people she's never known?

MY THOUGHTS
Of Triton is one of those reads to be picked up purely for the joy of reading, with expectations of emotional intensity and plot complexity kept reasonably in check and at times set aside in favor of utter escapism. While Ms. Banks captivated us instantly in Of Poseidon with Emma's hilarious first meeting with Galen, we get off to a bit of a shakier start with this sequel, some frustration with Emma's mother keeping us a bit at a distance as she seeks to perpetuate a miscommunication decades long rather than finally facing it. Once things are cleared up however (which thankfully does not take long), this story really finds its groove and we're easily swept up in the increasing political tension between the House of Poseidon and the House of Triton.

Emma isn't quite as socially inept and endearing as she was in book one, but then again the seriousness of her and Galen's situation–as well as that of her mother and Galen's brother Grom's–calls for a more somber Emma who is forced to mature a great deal in a short period of time. While we can't help but miss her offbeat and adorable sense of humor a bit in this tale, it's gratifying to see Emma start to listen to Galen and not fight him every step of the way as she did previously, finally trusting in his knowledge of Syrena laws and customs and not pushing him in order to assert her independence. She in no way bends to his will though, instead she pushes her opinion when she deems it important and then defers to him when she recognizes she's in over her head, forcing a smile of appreciation to stretch our lips at her handling of some very fragile circumstances.

Emma and Galen's relationship is of the sweet variety, relatively light on angst and emotional drama (for which we are extraordinarily grateful), but at the same time we don't really have the opportunity to get our hooks in them and see their struggles, their pain, and their love from point-blank range. We're happy when they're happy and we root for them throughout, but the ride in this book is fairly smooth, almost like running a gauntlet while completely encased in bubble wrap—emotional and physical blows are muted and don't quite have the strength to really knock us off our feet or send us reeling. Though that fact is a minor criticism, it's also a compliment as sometimes a lighter read is exactly what we we're looking for, and Of Triton certainly delivers on that front with an easy, fun jaunt into an underwater world.

Rating: 4/5

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This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review
I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

30 comments:

  1. Well I do not like that world, they sound evil :/

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    1. They're not quite as evil as they sound in the blurb:) I enjoy this series!

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  2. I haven't read the fist book yet but I'm really curious about this series. Even though it does sound evil and everything I'll give this one a try. Great review Jenny :)

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    1. They're fun books Tanja, I hope you give them a try!

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  3. I too still have to pick up Of Poseidon, but I remember when a lot of underwater themed books came out last year, Of Poseidon definitely stood out as one I should read. Also this line Of Triton certainly delivers on that front with an easy, fun jaunt into an underwater world. has me utterly convinced I need to give this series a try a lot sooner. Lovely review Jenny. And that cover is just to die for, so beautiful!

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    1. I thoroughly enjoyed Of Poseidon Jasprit! It was really funny, and while the humor was less in this one, it made sense given the seriousness of the things they were all facing.

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  4. I'm not sure if this series is for me, but it seems so solid that I'll have to check it out. Great review, Jenny!

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    1. Probably not Keertana, I won't lie:) It's a fun little series though, and it has some darkness mixed in so it's not all fluff.

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  5. It always worries me when there's not too much depth in a literary romance, but I enjoyed the sweetness of the first book, so I'm hoping this second installment works for me, as well. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Jenny! Great review, as always :)

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    1. If you liked the first one, I think you'll enjoy this one as well. Lots of things happen which I appreciated, that's not always the case with a sequel or middle book:)

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  6. Expectations going into a novel can definitely have a huge effect on what you make of the book. It sounds like you went into this one with the perfect mind frame and that it worked perfectly for you. I am definitely curious about this series, but after the scathing reviews of the first I had written them off. Maybe if I go in with expectations at a minimum I can have good luck with them too! Great review, Jenny!

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  7. I'm about five chapters into the first book (it was a free audiobook download) so I am CURIOUS. How much tingling is in this book? (Seriously. There's a lot of tingling going on in book 1 right now.)

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  8. While I did enjoy Of Poseidon, I was never overly excited to pick up the sequel. I actually have almost no recollection of what happened in the book (I remember there was a cliffhangery ending to do with Emma's mother...and I'm glad to see it gets cleared up in the sequel :) While I can't remember what Emma and Galen's relationship/romance was like in the first book, I'm definitely glad there's very little angst/emotional drama :) Thank goodness!<3

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  9. Character growth? Yay! I think the covers hint on a sweet romance and I'm actually glad it's more on the light side than angst. I've been reading way too many contemporaries (and I can't seem to stop) so it'd be fun to explore something a lighter in a great fantasy world. I think I'm going to wait until the series is out in ebooks though so I can devour them all and not wait for the sequel ;) lovely review hon!

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  10. FUN READ? yes! I'm definitely going to try to get it then :)

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  11. I like that the MC asserts her independence, instead of always listening to the boy. I really need to start OF POSEIDON soon!

    Great review, Jenny! :)

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  12. I really liked this one as well and I am hoping there will be a third book because I would love to get more of Galen and Emma.
    Great review!

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  13. I did like Of Poseidon it was one of the first mermaid books that I enjoyed. I really need to pick this one up. I can totally go for a book that is like running through a gauntlet in bubble wrap. I am getting a bit tired of this huge drama trend.

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  14. Oh I'm so jelly you got this book. I want to see for myself what is going on, but I'm so glad you enjoyed this one!! YES! I like the sound of Emma growing up more in this one. NEEDS IT! :D

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  15. That's actually a relief for me that it's a lighter read since I've put this one off for lighter books, now I have no excuse! I've been planning to read it for WEEKS. Now I plan to see the author tonight and I'm disappointed I didn't manage to read it before hand, but oh well, what do you do?

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  16. Hm. I remember not being a big fan of the first book because of several reasons, but this one does sound better! I'm extremely happy to hear that Emma doesn't fight Galen every step of the way (that was one thing that frustrated me in book one) and that she matures a lot over a short period of time (though I feel bad because it's due to her awful situation). Thanks for the insightful review, Jenny! Glad you liked this one. :)

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  17. Aww, I'm gonna miss the banter and the teasing between Galen and Emma! I thought that was fun! But if it's a light read that's good. I just hope it's not Blah! But a 4 from you doesn't sound Blah. Great review, getting me prepped to read it!

    Heather

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  18. I didn't like Of Poseidon and so won't be reading this one, Jenny, but it was nice to see your thoughts about it. I have to say that the romance in this one sounds much better.

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  19. Hmm, I guess it is true that it's nice to have a lighter read sometimes, though I think I would personally prefer more intensity out of a sequel. Something should happen that ramps up the volume from the first book. I haven't read the first book, but I think I would probably be a bit disappointed with this one as I am more of a complex, intense read type of person. Glad you liked it overall though! Great thoughts!!

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  20. Sometimes I really crave a read that is not filled with angst and drama! I just downloaded a copy of the first one, Of Poseidon, for free thanks to this sight (they're releasing new titles every week, so check it out):

    http://www.audiobooksync.com/

    So I'm excited to start this series! Wonderful review, Jenny! :)

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  21. This book goes down crazy yo! I loved all the drama. Please tell me that there is going to be more! I hope so. Loved your review Jenny!

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  22. We don't like too much drama, we don't like when things go too smoothly... there's no pleasing us, I suppose.
    I'm kidding, though, I know exactly what you mean. There IS a balance that can be achieved.
    I enjoyed the first book quite a bit, despite the horrible (HORRIBLE) audio narrator, and I can't wait to continue Emma and Galen's adventure.
    Thanks for the lovely review, Jenny!

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  23. I really loved Of Triton. I agree with you about Emma and Galen's relationship being super sweet. I also love the humor. Fantastic review! :)

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  24. This sounds like exactly what I was expecting from this book—a light, enjoyable read that never really has too much drama. Though I do enjoy some angst and conflict, it just makes the HEA's so much happier. Love this: "the ride in this book is fairly smooth, almost like running a gauntlet while completely encased in bubble wrap." That is a hilarious image! Wonderful review Jenny :-)

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