Title: Waterfell
Author: Amalie Howard (Twitter)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publish Date: October 29, 2013
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Pages: 360
Source: Publisher

Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day she can claim her birthright—the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon—until her father's betrayer confronts Nerissa and challenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa's upcoming birthday—the day she comes of age.

Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa's mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpin that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?

Mermaids are quite the rarity in young adult fiction, or so I've discovered in my 3+ years as a book blogger. And, when they are broached, so often we see the age-old tale of the Little Mermaid. Rarely do we see an author craft a story rich with mythology, backstory, danger and intrigue, but Amalie Howard has done exactly that with Waterfell. The novel gives us a new type of mer-creature; one that is so vastly different from the glimmering and beguiling sea folk we've come to expect from the few stories that present to us tales of mermaids. 

Nerissa, our heroine, is of the Aquarathi, a breed of underwater creatures that most might consider mermaids and men. However, her true form under the sea couldn't be further from the image that comes to mind. When Nerissa takes on her true form and claims her birthright, she becomes a sea serpent…and a massive one at that. The biggest strength of Waterfell was Ms. Howard's ability to paint such a vivid picture of this breed of paranormal creatures. Not only are we given the Aquarathi though, we're also given a distinct backstory that truly presents Nerissa's claim in the limelight for us.

Perhaps even better, when Waterfell describes the destruction that her kingdom endured, we see true evil. The author paints a world that's dark and menacing, but all the while haunting and alluring, all of which pulls us into this twisted underwater world. Written in a clear and distinct voice, there is a cold and articulated danger that we sense from page one, and it's easy to see why Nerissa has become so very self-sufficient, strong and independent.

Therein, however, lies my issue with the book. We are offered so very much with Waterfell. We are welcomed into a terrifyingly beautiful underwater world full of drama and strife. We have a fantastic heroine in whom to find hope and promise. And yet, we're offered a completely average love interest in Lo. While so much of the story is excels, and we're excited that this might just be the mermaid book to break the mold and make a strong case for this realm of the paranormal, Lo fell very flat. He was beautiful, and he somehow conquered Nerissa's steely exterior. Unfortunately, I felt that the romance was too much, and it overshadowed much of the positives of the novel, simply settling it to rest on its laurels.

Overall, Waterfell was a good book. It gives us a great premise and a vivid world, but it fell prey to the same fate that befalls so many books within the genre today. It could have done with less romance and more mystery, in my humble opinion. I give it a 3.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to fans of YA, especially those who enjoy paranormal romance.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine, and specifically spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. As always, there are some amazing upcoming books, but this week I'm particularly excited for…

Title: Wickedpedia

Author: Chris Van Etten (Twitter)

Publisher: Scholastic

Publish Date: June 24, 2014

Genre: YA, Horror

Pages: 224

It's the return of Point Horror for the Internet generation! Don't open the door. Don't answer your phone. And whatever you do, DON'T turn on your computer.

Cole and Greg love playing practical jokes through Wikipedia. They edit key articles and watch their classmates crash and burn giving oral reports on historical figures like Genghis Khan, the first female astronaut on Jupiter. So after the star soccer player steals Cole's girlfriend, the boys take their revenge by creating a Wikipedia page for him, an entry full of outlandish information including details about his bizarre death on the soccer field.

It's all in good fun, until the soccer player is killed in a freak accident...just as Cole and Greg predicted. The uneasy boys vow to leave Wikipedia alone but someone continues to edit articles about classmates dying in gruesome ways...and those entries start to come true as well. To his horror, Cole soon discovers that someone has created a Wikipedia page for him, and included a date of death. He has one week to figure out who's behind the murders, or else he's set to meet a pretty grisly end.

Holy horror. I always pretend I'm a hero and I can stomach brutality and horror, but let's be honest. I'm not. There's something about the genre though that keeps me on my toes. Wickedpedia seems like it is going to embody its title…full of wicked, terrible, horrifying delights. I'll probably be too scared to turn on my computer for a week or ten, but you know, I just can't resist. It's like some sort of twisted sadistic pleasure. I can't help it, and I certainly can't wait for this book (and this sick cover). What do you think, and what are you waiting on this week?

Title: I'll Be There
Author: Holly Goldberg Sloan (Twitter)
Publisher: Little, Brown BYR
Publish Date: May 17, 2011
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Pages: 392
Source: Personal Copy

Emily Bell believes in destiny. To her, being forced to sing a solo in the church choir--despite her average voice--is fate: because it's while she's singing that she first sees Sam. At first sight, they are connected.

Sam Border wishes he could escape, but there's nowhere for him to run. He and his little brother, Riddle, have spent their entire lives constantly uprooted by their unstable father. That is, until Sam sees Emily. That's when everything changes.

As Sam and Riddle are welcomed into the Bells' lives, they witness the warmth and protection of a family for the first time. But when tragedy strikes, they're left fighting for survival in the desolate wilderness, and wondering if they'll ever find a place where they can belong.

The beauty of contemporary fiction, regardless of the age range for which it's written, is that when it's done well, it has the innate power to evoke true, raw emotion from readers. It's a power that, in the vast scheme of literature, very few novels possess, but it's a true gem when we find one that does. I'll Be There is a novel that speaks volumes to readers but does so in sweet, melodic tones that resonate, gently prompting to look within ourselves and challenge the depths of our own humanity and compassion.

Underrated in so many ways, I'll Be There soars because of this, and the emotion leaps from the pages from the start. Sam embodies loneliness. If loneliness had a face, it would be his, and the aching sadness of it would grip you in its vice-like hooks because of its depths. Sam is a genuine character in whom I could see shades of myself; vestiges of a lost youth, though his circumstances were undeniably more difficult. Emily, on the other hand, wanted for nothing. At the same time though, she didn't fall prey to the stereotypes of young adult good girls. There was a sweetness about her - almost a achingly so - and a trust that makes her truly accessible.

The connection between Emily and Sam surpassed much of what romance presents to the genre today. Rather than offering us lust, I'll Be There offers us a connection. Rather than playing to a hyper-sexualized society, we're offered sweet, powerful and pure friendship and compassion, which makes the plot and events within the novel all the more powerful. The novel embraces pain and hardship throughout, making it a difficult read at times, but in the best possible way. I found that it challenged me to feel everything I didn't necessarily want to feel and, in the end, put me in the characters' exact shoes at exactly the right place and time.

Holly Goldberg Sloan spun a masterpiece with I'll Be There. Equal parts character-driven and plot driven, there is a delicate and precarious balance throughout - the art of which simply cannot be ignored. The writing is melodic and heartfelt, but it never felt cloying or overtly so. Instead, it simply felt as though I was watching two lives intersect, blossom and evolve into something different entirely. It was beautiful, heart-wrenching and completely surprising from start to finish.

Overall, I'm unable to fully express just how poignant and powerful this novel is. The manner in which characters and relationships are explored is absolutely impeccable, and if you're looking for a book that embraces humanity in its truest potential, this is it. I give I'll Be There a 5 out of 5, and I highly recommend to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy contemporary fiction.