REVIEW - Luminare (Florence Waverly #2) by Ciye Cho

Title: Luminaire 
Author: Ciye Cho
Series: Florence Waverly #2
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Expected publication: 1st Dec 2012
Links: Website / Goodreads / Amazon
Source: eBook from Author

Summary:
Being the only human in a world of merfolk... isn't easy. Florence Waverley chose to stay in Niemela, but things have gone awry. Secrets have risen and the prince she cares about has pulled away. All the while, dark dreams warn her of a tragedy that only she can stop. But in order to save the merman she loves, Florence will have to enter the Life Path tournament: a brutal test of fear and madness.

The tournament is a rite of passage--a maze where young mermaids and mermen battle to find their purpose. It is also a place where Florence will face grave danger: mermaids with evil magic, tunnels filled with sea fire, and guardians who wish to use her as a pawn in their secret plans. But will Florence be strong enough to survive the tournament... or will she perish inside it?

Everything hangs in the balance: her life, her world, and her love.

5/5

Oh dear god how I LOVE this book!! I just can't express how much I love and adore the world that the author has created. I just want to dive in to the pages and never resurface. 

Cho is one of the best descriptive writers I have ever encountered. They way he describes Niemela and the creatures down there is phenomenal. You can see every colour, feel every texture, you just feel like you are really down there with Florence and all the mer people. They world is so layered, between the vibrance and colourfulness of the kingdom to the eeriness and mystery of the darkness. If you don't like too much description in your books then maybe this one isn't for you but I still HIGHLY encourage you to give it a try. It's just so amazing.

Florence I really like. She isn't the usual clingy and needy character. She has grown so much in the two books. In Luminaire she decides to enter the Life Path tournament so as to finally feel like she belongs somewhere. She wants to show the mer people that is not some weak little human. She is such a strong character with a warm and caring heart. 

Rolan I love. Even though he becomes very closed off and pulls away from Florence I still loved him and so wanted him and Florence to finally become an official couple. The few rare glimpses we see of the other side of Rolan are so sweet and I could tell that he really does care deeply about Florence. They are just so cute together.

Yolee I also love. She is so cute! I just want to squeeze her! She is so loyal and supportive of Florence. She has stood by her side the whole time even when everyone else has shunned her. I just want to be her friend.

The darker side of Niemela is seen more in this installment and more and more questions are raised as to what is happening. The tournament is full of danger and and brutal tests of both body and mind. It was very reminiscent of the tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire although this one felt much darker and more dangerous. We learn a lot more about Niemela society and I was fascinated by the different Life Paths and we got to learn more about the history and customs of the mer people.

I could go on and on about how much I love this series but I won't so I'll just leave you with this: READ THIS NOW!!! You won't be disappointed! 

*I received an eARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*