*ARC* The Rising - Review

The Rising (The Painted Maidens #1)

By: Terra Harmony

Published: November 7, 2013 by Patchwork Press

271 pages

Source: Netgalley ARC, given by publisher for review (Thanks!)

(Goodreads / Smashwords)

Summary:

Fifteen-year-old Serena is the youngest member of a dying race. The increasing acidity of the ocean is destroying her home, slowly eating away at the once thriving underwater landscape. But since the night of Serena’s birth, it is an outside force that most threatens their dwindling population. Werewolves, who once served as protectors for mermaids in the Kingdom of the Undine, now seek to eliminate all who dwell in the ocean — and Serena is about to find herself right in the middle of the deadly conflict.

Given the title of Werewolf Liaison, Serena is determined to make things right for her people. When she ventures to The Dry, she meets Liam, the werewolf with hazel eyes, and her whole world gets turned upside down. As Serena discovers the real history between werewolves and mermaids, she is left wondering who her true enemies are.

MY REVIEW:
Serena is an Undine, the youngest one of her kind to be exact.  Known as mermaid's to most, they prefer to be called by their true species name.  These are not like other mermaid's who are only bound to the ocean. The Undine's can transform themselves to full human form to walk on dry ground, covering parts of their body with scales for either cover or protection as needed. This is an important characteristic of their race as it is in their human form that they are able to procreate, but only under a full moon and only under the careful watch of their protectors. For the last 15 years though they have been unable to mate and birth young. The werewolves, who once served as their protectors, have prevented them from creating more Undine's due to an old grudge.

On the day of The Choosing, a time at the age of 16 when positions are given by the King to the Undine for them to serve among their people, Serena is given the position of Werewolf Liason. No one has held this position in the last 15 years and it's given in an effort to once again unite the Undine with the Werewolves so that they can safely birth young again. If she fails in this duty, the Undine race will die out.

I gotta admit.  At first, this was all I could picture:
 
You know the scene. Ariel in her special cave where she keeps all her "treasurers" and she sings Part of Your World.

In The Rising Serena doesn't feel like she fits in, her parents were killed in the Maiden Massacre 15 years ago, where she alone was the sole survivor, and was raised in an orphanage.  What little belongings she has she keeps them stored in a box.  Her home, a small space away from most of society. Visions of The Little Mermaid were all I could see for awhile, and this song made me chuckle. I'm not complaining. I loved The Little Mermaid....still do if I'm being honest. But in books, mermaids haven't ever really intrigued me. Pair mermaids with werewolves and it seemed a rather strange combination to me. Which is exactly why I requested the book. I had never heard of another story that paired the two creatures together. Pleasantly surprised sums up my reaction to the book. The beginning seemed a bit slow for my taste but I enjoyed the second half much better.

Serena is a strong character. She is determined to make a difference for her people, even though she doesn't feel she belongs with them. Kai, a member of the King's Gaurd, and the most sought after unattached Undine male - love him! Liam, the werewolf Serena meets in The Dry is a mystery all on his own.

The home of the Undine, the ocean depths, is descriptive in such a way that I could easily picture each room, the Great Hall, the Archives, the paths they take to and from The Dry.  I ended up really enjoying the book and am definitely left with wanting to know what happens next.

Favorite Quotes:
"...you are worth waiting for, and I will wait for you until my last breath."

Final Rating - 4 stars

This review is part of the ARC Thursday feature on Words Fueled by Love.