Review: Tempest Rising

TEMPEST RISING
Tracy Deebs
Paranormal Young Adult
352 pages
Walker Books for Young Readers
Available Now
Received via Teen Book Scene for review

THE STORY
Tempest Maguire has a decision to make. With her seventeenth birthday rapidly approaching, she knows her mermaid heritage is going to make itself known and she will need to choose between a life on land and a life at sea. For her, the decision is simple. She's human and she wants no part of the world her mother abandoned her and her family for years ago.

The pull of the ocean is incredibly strong however, and with the arrival of Kona, a young man who seems to know what she's going through, her easy decision becomes increasingly complicated. When Kona is threatened, Tempest doesn't even consider not coming to his aid by staying on land, instead diving into the water and temporarily embracing her mermaid half.

While in Kona's world, Tempest learns more about her mother and the life she returned to those years before, causing her anger over the abandonment to slightly abate as she finds herself in the middle of the same battle her mother left to fight. With each day, life as a mermaid feels more like home, but Tempest struggles more than ever with her decision, not wanting to be the second woman in their family to leave those she loves behind.

MY THOUGHTS
Tempest Rising is a deceptively dark read, those of us going into it with memories of cute Disney characters sure to be both surprised and pleased by the grim quality of Tempest's tale. There is no singing or fun crustacean sidekicks, instead we are faced with rather profound and intense emotional issues surrounding Tempest's mother's choice of duty over family and the lasting effects that decision has on Tempest's own impending choice between human and mermaid. Ms. Deebs beautifully illustrates both sides of Tempest's nature–effectively cleaving our hearts in two as we find ourselves as split in our thinking as young Tempest. We are grounded on land with her, enveloped in the comfort of home and family, but we are also simultaneously intrigued as Tempest is by the fanciful and unknown world beneath the waves beckoning us to explore.

While the epic decision Tempest is faced with is heart-wrenching in its depiction, Tempest herself is a bit difficult to connect with. We absolutely feel her pain and sense of betrayal at her mom's absence during a time when she most needs her guidance, but she has the frustrating tendency to expect things of others she's not willing to give herself. Her human boyfriend Mark desperately tries to get her to confide in him when she's thrown off-kilter by the emergence of some of her mermaid traits, but she continually shoves his attention away and denies him the trust he so desires. However, when Kona enters the picture and has information and answers she wants, she gets angry at him for keeping her in the dark as she did Mark, at times recognizing the parallel between Kona's actions with her and hers with Mark but somehow expecting different results when she's on the receiving end of the silence.

Additionally, the final battle between Kona, Tempest, and the sea witch leaves just a little to be desired. We are told of a prophecy in which a girl matching Tempest's description defeats one of the sea witch's greatest monsters and presumably destroys her as well, but there are so many questions we want answered only to find few of them are by the time we finish, almost as though we are merely being asked to believe what we're told as opposed to being made to believe with a little more history and detail. Tempest has extraordinary power, but we have no idea where it came from or why she is the first to possess the abilities that have made her a target for the sea witch, leaving us a bit detached from the action as our complete involvement is blocked by a lack of information.

Overall, Tempest Rising is an entertaining read, its subject matter a nice diversion from the vampires, werewolves, and fae, and its world one we certainly wouldn't mind returning to visit again. Tempest is a bit bothersome at times with her attitude and behavior, but as an older reader of young adult fiction, it's easy to forget that all my reactions and decisions at her age were not always rational and completely mature. Ms. Deebs is an author I will be watching in the future though and will read again if given the chance.

Rating: 3/5

Guest Post + Giveaway: Tracy Deebs and Tempest Rising

Today I'd like to extend a warm Supernatural Snark welcome to Tracy Deebs, author of the upcoming young adult novel Tempest Rising (releases May 10th). She was nice enough to take a little time to give us a few fun facts about herself so we can get to know her better, and be sure to follow her book tour through Teen Book Scene to read all the author interviews, character interviews and reviews!

Hi, everyone. First off, I want to thank Jenny for having me here today—I really appreciate it, and the chance to talk a little bit about Tempest Rising, my debut YA novel. Now, to be completely honest, I get a little antsy when someone asks me to write a bio of myself, because I never have a clue what to include (and what to leave out). But I’ll give it my best shot.

I love lipstick, books and fancy earrings (though not necessarily in that order).

I love to travel, but absolutely refuse to set foot in a tent.

I love dancing, reading poetry (the Beats are my favorite), swimming and trying new recipes.

I’m addicted to chocolate, pickles and strawberry-banana smoothies (though not at the same time).

I love thunderstorms, unexpected downpours, and walking in the rain, but hate the feel of wet clothes against my skin when the storm is over.

When I was young, I watched the Hans Christian Anderson version of The Little Mermaid at least once a day for three years. And though my mermaid obsession eventually gave way to a love of all things Wonder Woman, my interest in mermaids never went completely away (obviously).

My favorite book of all time is Ayn Rand’s Anthem, while my least favorite book of all time is John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath.

My favorite book that I’ve read in the last year is Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother.

One summer, I went to every major amusement park in America. Another summer, I ran away with band.

Two of my closest friends and I wrote a book called The International Kissing Club, about four girls who travel internationally and start a Facebook page to keep track of the points they get from kissing boys. It comes out in January 2012.

I’ve climbed the Pyramids in Egypt, walked on the banks of the Red Sea, kissed a boy in front of the Eiffel Tower, gotten soaked at Cleopatra’s favorite bathing spot and surfed Diamondhead Bay in Hawaii. I’ve also skydived over New Mexico and stood at the Cave of the Winds in Niagara Falls.

Despite my love of the water, I have a deep-seated fear of sharks. A serious, awful, unbelievable terror of sharks.

I came up with the idea for Tempest Rising when my agent asked me “So, how do you feel about mermaids …”

I set Tempest Rising on the beaches I used to hang out at, swim in and surf when I was her age.

At seventeen, there was nothing quite like a midnight ride out to La Jolla and a long walk on the beach.

To this day, my favorite thing to do is to curl up with a cup of tea and a book as I listen to the rain hit against the window.

And last but not least, I’m part of the Chills and Thrills Teen Book Tour, which will be visiting all the major cities in Texas in the next month. Check out our website to see the other authors on the tour: http://chillsandthrillsteenbooktour.wordpress.com/whos-who/

So, tell me one cool thing about you and be entered to win a copy of Tempest Rising.

Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing all those fun tidbits Tracy! I have to say I too am addicted to chocolate, refuse to set foot in a tent, and harbor a spectacular fear of sharks. Clearly, we both rock ;-) To be entered in the giveaway please just leave a comment answering Tracy's prompt and include an email address so I can contact you if you win. This contest is open to US residents only and will run through midnight EST on May 8th. Good luck everyone!

TEMPEST RISING (from Goodreads):

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her—and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.