REVIEW - Florence by Ciye Cho

Title: Florence

Author: Ciye Cho
Series: Florence Waverley #1

Genre: YA Fantasy Romance

Expected Release: 1st July 2012

Links: Goodreads / Amazon
Source: eBook from Author

Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Florence Waverley is out of her depth. Literally. Kidnapped and taken below the waves to the mer world of Niemela, she is the ultimate gift for merman Prince Kiren: a human familiar tied to his side. But nothing is what it seems amid the beauty and danger of a dark ocean.

Every Niemelan has a role to play, from the mermaids who weave towers out of kelp to the warriors who fight sea monsters. But in trying to survive, Florence will end up in the middle of a war between the mer and the Darkness. A conflict that will push her between two brothers: Kiren, the charmer inexplicably drawn to both her and the monsters; and Rolan, the loner who has been pushing her away since the day they met. But in order to take a stand--and find out where she belongs--Florence will have to risk it all: her life, her heart... and her very soul.

5/5

This is only the second mermaid novel I have read but I have to say it is by far the best! Before starting this book I was in a bit of a reading slump but it managed to pull me out of it. It had me hooked, line and sinker (pun intended). 

Cho has created a mesmerizing and enchanting world beneath the sea. This was one of the things I loved about this book; how it was actually set in the mermaids world and not ours. The beautifully vivid descriptions of this world will make you think you are actually there. You will be entranced by the lush and vibrant colours of this underwater kingdom, everything described down to the last detail. You could practically taste the kelp. You know that the author has done a lot of research.

The characters are the second reason I loved this book. Florence I really liked. I felt I could relate to her and how she goes by just observing life, never engaging in it. She experiences real character growth throughout the book and we get to see her finally come out of her shell a little. The mer folk I really enjoyed. Princess Yolee was a little cutie, I wanted to squeeze her. She is so fun and loving, she became a true friend to Florence. Prince Kiren I was always a bit wary of, even if he was a bit of a charmer. Prince Rolan we don't really get to know until about half way through the book. He is very distant and almost cold to begin with but then we see that there is more to his hard exterior. In the end I found myself rooting for him ( why is it I always seem to go for the brooding types?). 

The story-line was well thought out. It was very interesting and kept you engaged in the book. It was never boring. The ending left me dying to know what happens next. 

Overall this is a must read for any mermaid lovers out there. A spellbinding read that will leave you gasping for air and make you wish that this world actually existed and that you could be a part of it. 

Side-note: I had the song Part of Your World from The Little Mermaid playing in my head the whole time while reading. Even though the lyrics should be the other way around. Now it's gonna be stuck in my head for days :P I love this song though so I'm not complaining :)

*I was provided with a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*