Sometimes following your heart can end up destroying the ones you love. When seventeen-year-old Eviana Dumahl is faced with the responsibility of an arranged marriage and clan leadership, she is forced to choose between the life required of a mermaid and one of a teenage girl simply infatuated with the wrong guy. Kain, her devoted fiancé, would make a wonderful husband except that she's been in love with Brendan, a shape-shifting selkie, ever since they were kids. Choosing to abandon her family, her clan, and her life with Kain will have dire consequences far beyond anything she could have imagined. A war is brewing amongst the clans and Eviana unwittingly becomes a pawn in the intricate schemes of a twisted mastermind. With Brendan's life on the line, she has no choice but to involve those she once considered friends. Amidst encountering senseless tragedies and immense loss, Eviana discovers that she is more valuable as a clan leader than anyone ever suspected. Her survival is not only dependent upon the loyalty of her friends, but also on her acceptance of a life she so adamantly tried to escape. Promises is the first book of The Syrenka Series trilogy following Eviana and her friends through the perils of growing up in a discrete world that inherently threatens human society.
Promises (Book One of The Syrenka Series)
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About the Author
Amber Garr spends her days conducting scientific experiments and wondering if her next door neighbor is secretly a vampire. Born in Pennsylvania, she lives in Florida with her husband and their furry kids. Her childhood imaginary friend was a witch, Halloween is sacred, and she is certain that she has a supernatural sense of smell. She writes both adult and young adult urban fantasies and when not obsessing over the unknown, she can be found dancing, reading, or enjoying a good movie.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By Sarah
Format:Kindle Edition
(I received a digital copy of this book for free as part of the `Syrenka' Blog Tour!)
This is book 1 in the `Syrenka' series.
17-year-old Eviana is a mermaid. Not only is she a mermaid, but she is her clan leaders eldest child, which means that she will be the next clan leader. Mermaids are a dying species, which means that they must marry and breed appropriately. Eviana's parents have arranged a marriage for her, to Kain - the heir of the Matthew's clan, who as mermen go, is quite a catch.
Eviana and Kain have known about this arrangement since they were very young, but while Kain obviously has feelings for Eviana, Eviana has a boyfriend, a selkie (seal) called Brandon who her parents don't approve of (as mermaids and selki's can't breed together).
With Eviana's 18th birthday only a few weeks away, her marriage is fast approaching, and she knows that as much as she likes Kain, she belongs with Brandon, and they begin to make plans to run away together.
With tensions running high between Eviana and her parents, a Syrenka Cotillion to attend, and her wedding day looming, Eviana throws her entire life away to run away with Brandon, even when she knows that Kain would be a great husband and that they would be good together.
But when disaster strikes, and Brandon's life is on the line, Eviana finds that having no family and friends to turn to could mean that she loses the only thing that she ever truly wanted, and she must swallow her embarrassment and ask the people that she left behind for help.
I really enjoyed this book, from the very first page I was swept into Eviana's world, with both its magical beings, and teenage normalcy.... Read more ›
This is book 1 in the `Syrenka' series.
17-year-old Eviana is a mermaid. Not only is she a mermaid, but she is her clan leaders eldest child, which means that she will be the next clan leader. Mermaids are a dying species, which means that they must marry and breed appropriately. Eviana's parents have arranged a marriage for her, to Kain - the heir of the Matthew's clan, who as mermen go, is quite a catch.
Eviana and Kain have known about this arrangement since they were very young, but while Kain obviously has feelings for Eviana, Eviana has a boyfriend, a selkie (seal) called Brandon who her parents don't approve of (as mermaids and selki's can't breed together).
With Eviana's 18th birthday only a few weeks away, her marriage is fast approaching, and she knows that as much as she likes Kain, she belongs with Brandon, and they begin to make plans to run away together.
With tensions running high between Eviana and her parents, a Syrenka Cotillion to attend, and her wedding day looming, Eviana throws her entire life away to run away with Brandon, even when she knows that Kain would be a great husband and that they would be good together.
But when disaster strikes, and Brandon's life is on the line, Eviana finds that having no family and friends to turn to could mean that she loses the only thing that she ever truly wanted, and she must swallow her embarrassment and ask the people that she left behind for help.
I really enjoyed this book, from the very first page I was swept into Eviana's world, with both its magical beings, and teenage normalcy.... Read more ›
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.5 out of 5 stars
52 reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Start to a Fun and Thrilling Series
7 Aug 2012
By Stephanie Ward
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition
'Promises' is a fun and thrilling first book of the Syrenka trilogy that brings mythological sea creatures to life. It focuses on Eviana, our heroine, as well as her boyfriend Brendan and her friends. After running from her duties to her merfolk clan, Eviana is faced with serious circumstances and must figure out what is happening between the clans and how to stop the war that is threatening to erupt. What Eviana discovers will change her life forever.
I found this to be a fast-paced, fun adventure with great fantasy characters. I haven't read many mermaid fiction before, and I found it interesting how the author presented the mermaid culture and their history. I also loved how she incorporated other mythological sea creatures into the narrative - like water sprites, selkies, and naiads. They brought a unique and refreshing feel to the mermaid genre in young adult fiction.
The story was somewhat predictable but had good twists that I didn't see coming. I felt connected to Eviana and easily identified with her early in the story. The ending was a good fit for a first book in a series - it doesn't leave the ending too closed and it doesn't leave too many questions unanswered either. All in all, 'Promises' is a great start to a fun and interesting series. Fans of paranormal YA fiction and mermaid lore will love this series.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
I found this to be a fast-paced, fun adventure with great fantasy characters. I haven't read many mermaid fiction before, and I found it interesting how the author presented the mermaid culture and their history. I also loved how she incorporated other mythological sea creatures into the narrative - like water sprites, selkies, and naiads. They brought a unique and refreshing feel to the mermaid genre in young adult fiction.
The story was somewhat predictable but had good twists that I didn't see coming. I felt connected to Eviana and easily identified with her early in the story. The ending was a good fit for a first book in a series - it doesn't leave the ending too closed and it doesn't leave too many questions unanswered either. All in all, 'Promises' is a great start to a fun and interesting series. Fans of paranormal YA fiction and mermaid lore will love this series.
Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Merfolk story with a twist
24 Sep 2012
By Nickle Love [Night Owl Reads]
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition
Originally published in Night Owl Reads
Disclaimer: I won a copy of this book from a contest. I was not paid to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and was never influenced by anything or anyone.
I was still in a merfolk phase when I started reading Promises. I disregarded my reading list and opened this one because I was curious, and I felt like I had to read it ASAP.
I'll just get to the point. More often than not, I find myself disliking Eviana and her decisions. But if it weren't for those decisions, then we wouldn't have this story. She is the future leader of their clan and wants nothing to do with it; She just wants to be with her boyfriend, Brendan, who happens to be a selkie.
Eviana was arranged to be married to Kain, the future leader of the Matthews' clan. I liked Kain from the start, there was something about him that appealed to me, not that I disliked Brendan, but I liked Kain more. I felt bad for him because he loved Eviana but she never saw him like that. Yes, she liked him but only saw him as a brother or cousin.
My favorite part was the leadership camp thing, especially Kain's proposal to Eviana. I think that showed how much he really loved her to put her happiness before his own, and still keeping the clan partnership intact. What Eviana did next totally pissed me off, but like what I mentioned earlier, there wouldn't be a story if she didn't do the things she did.
Eviana was living her dream for a few months before the incident happens, and she has no choice but to seek help from the people she once hurt. That's where the adventure begins.
It's a different merfolk world from the others I've read, it's a bit magical too. These are land-dwelling mermaids that can't exactly breathe underwater. There are also other mythical creatures mentioned that I am interested in learning more about. It's also quite an adventure that promises more in the coming series.
Disclaimer: I won a copy of this book from a contest. I was not paid to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and was never influenced by anything or anyone.
I was still in a merfolk phase when I started reading Promises. I disregarded my reading list and opened this one because I was curious, and I felt like I had to read it ASAP.
I'll just get to the point. More often than not, I find myself disliking Eviana and her decisions. But if it weren't for those decisions, then we wouldn't have this story. She is the future leader of their clan and wants nothing to do with it; She just wants to be with her boyfriend, Brendan, who happens to be a selkie.
Eviana was arranged to be married to Kain, the future leader of the Matthews' clan. I liked Kain from the start, there was something about him that appealed to me, not that I disliked Brendan, but I liked Kain more. I felt bad for him because he loved Eviana but she never saw him like that. Yes, she liked him but only saw him as a brother or cousin.
My favorite part was the leadership camp thing, especially Kain's proposal to Eviana. I think that showed how much he really loved her to put her happiness before his own, and still keeping the clan partnership intact. What Eviana did next totally pissed me off, but like what I mentioned earlier, there wouldn't be a story if she didn't do the things she did.
Eviana was living her dream for a few months before the incident happens, and she has no choice but to seek help from the people she once hurt. That's where the adventure begins.
It's a different merfolk world from the others I've read, it's a bit magical too. These are land-dwelling mermaids that can't exactly breathe underwater. There are also other mythical creatures mentioned that I am interested in learning more about. It's also quite an adventure that promises more in the coming series.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great story; well written
13 Dec 2011
By Betsy S. Haley
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
Once I purchased this book and started reading it, I could not stop. The storyline drew me in immediately. The world of shapeshifters--syrens, selkies, and others alike--is well-detailed and very intriguing. I cannot wait for the second book to see how the adventure continues.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 52 reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
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