Between the Sea and Sky - Book Review

Title ~ Between the Sea and Sky
Series ~ Single Title
Author ~ Jaclyn Dolamore
Release Date ~ October 25, 2011
Age Group ~ Young Adult
Publisher ~ Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
Source ~ Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books

GOODREADS SUMMARY

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

REVIEW

Between the Sea and Sky delivers a mix of fantasy and fairy tale. Not only that, but the characters are either mermaids who live in the water or winged people who live in the sky. They are able to come together on an island where the mermaids can walk around and the winged people can land. The catch is that the two do not get along. There’s not a real explanation for WHY, but it is enough for Esmerine and Alandare’s families to look down on their friendship. They are not forbidden to be together, but their friendship is frowned upon by the others. It feels all Romeo and Juliet-ish to me! The setting is even Midieval-ish.

Jaclyn Dolamore creates imperfect characters that have depth. The characters are not predictable at all. Take Alandare for example. When Esmerine and Alandare come upon each other and try to find the spark from their childhood, Alandare is not exactly the nicest guy. In fact he is pretty much a sarcastic JERK. He was like Jekyll and Hyde – being overprotective of Esmerine and then barely speaking to her. Gah! Over time though, he comes around and their friendship takes on a new life. Then there is kind-hearted Esmerine, who could be too trusting at times and found the good in people even when they were being anything but good *cough* Alandare *cough.*

You know what I really really liked about Esmerine. SHE LOVED BOOKS! Esmerine read fantasies and fairy tales. It’s funny that Esmerine is actually IN a fantasy / fairy tale and she is reading them too. Maybe it all plays into her personality though and she is open to the magic of her life.

The Dosinia twist is Oh. My. Gosh. a shocker! I did not expect any sort of surprises and BAM, there’s this unexpected Dosinia sub-plot. Whoa! I just LOVE it when a book throws in something that makes me go WHAT!?!?!?

If you like rainbow and unicorn endings, then prepare to be saying AWWWWWW. This is a fun book to read and the characters are fabulous.

RATING

4 Like

COVER COMMENTS

The turquoise water looks like a Caribbean sea! I love the color and how the water and sky come together.