Title: The Vicious Deep
Series: The Vicious Deep #1
Author: Zoraida Córdova
Published: May 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks Fire
Genre: YA Paranormal / Fantasy
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For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave. He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.
His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he’s heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he’s suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods.
Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea…and now it wants him back.
Oh my god, this book. I don’t even. Mermaids, you guys. Even worse than that: MERMEN. A word so funny that even the characters in the story debate it.
“Merman.”
“You have to come up with something less fruity.”
“How about mer-stud?”
“Merbro.”
“I kinda liked merdude.”
This I would like to add: Mermister. Mersir. Mergents.
So, Tristan Hart. Boy with the ridiculously pretty turquoise eyes. Swim team star. Lifeguard. Kind of adorable, kind of an ass. Tristan has a reputation with the ladies, and because of this, the one girl he actually wants, doesn’t want to take a chance on him. I really liked the way the romance is handled in this book. Falling for the best friend is one of my favourite tropes, after all.
It’s a pretty light read. There are amusing moments. I made dolphin sounds when Kurt popped up naked in the bathtub. That was my favourite bit hands down. I am sad that there’s not more merman on merman action in this book. And that’s something I never thought I’d say.
I kind of wanted the story to be darker. I wanted more of the vicious. There are a lot of action sequences, and some of Tristan’s friends end up as cannon fodder, but it still stayed on the light side. I think this is mostly because of how Tristan reacts to things, he’s very laid back most of the time. Not that I want angst, but sheesh, I would be a lot more upset if I suddenly had a tail.
This book would probably make for a pretty movie, being that all the characters are so colourful. Mermaids are gorgeous, shiny things who can whip an entire school into hormone addled frenzy.
There’s a second splash. I swim to her, the scales along my arms glistening in the moonlight. She breaths short and shallow. Her teeth chatter when she says, “You’re shiny.”
“Yeah, right. Vampires don’t glitter, but I do.”
I will probably read the second book, because I want to know more about Gwen (who stole the show in the last 3rd of the book to me) and I am seriously hoping for a sex scene just so we will once and finally know where exactly Tristan’s junk goes while in merman form.
(3.5/5)
Zoraida Córdova was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She made her way up north and now works in the glittering New York City nightlife. She likes shiny things like Christmas, merdudes, and the skyline at night. She’s currently working on book #2.
Pixel Character Fanart
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That’s it. I think I love you. The way you word things is very amusing. I need you in my life! ♥
Oh my, I think I’m blushing. I mean, it might be the heat wave that has me up at 4am on a Sunday morning, but no, I think it’s more “hee, somebody likes me”.
You are more than welcome to drop by and say hi any time you like
Awh!
Of course. I’m looking forward to it!