EMILY WINDSNAP AND THE SIREN'S SECRET by Liz Kessler

For two weeks, come celebrate mermaids, whether it’s winter or summer where you live. Splash into Summer runs from June 28th to July 12th. There will be author interviews, guest posts, giveaways, reviews, and more! Now is the time to celebrate mermaids, especially with so many new novels about them coming out.

Living on a magical island should be perfect - but Emily and her family and friends jump at the chance to go home to Brightport and carry out Neptune's orders to bring humans and merfolk together. There, thrown out of mermaid school and scorned by her old enemy Mandy Rushton, she goes in search of the lost sirens, banished by Neptune to a secret underground cavern. It's only when she uncovers their story that she can begin to reconcile her two worlds. But can she do it in time to save herself and her family from the wrath of Neptune?

From Goodreads

Be sure to also check out my interview with the swishy Liz Kessler!

I love the EMILY WINDSNAP books. They’re fun, carefree...and about one of my favorite topics: Mermaids! I wasn’t always so enamored with the series. The first two books were cute and sweet, and I would have loved them when I was younger (since they’re for a middle-grade audience), but nothing stood out and bowled me over. Then came Book Three. EMILY WINDSNAP AND THE CASTLE IN THE MIST had so much unique mythology infused into it. Liz Kessler created a world that was magical and able to suck me right in. She created a beautiful legend about Neptune that really resonated. It was instantly my favorite in the series.

I was lucky enough to meet Liz Kessler in the autumn of 2009. Her fourth book in the series, EMILY WINDSNAP AND THE SIREN’S SECRET, had just debuted in the UK and wasn’t scheduled to come out in the USA until the spring of 2010. She mentioned that originally, she hadn’t planned to write more than three books, but so many people had written to her about their love of Emily that she wrote a fourth one. Right now, she’s in the process of writing a fifth novel, so there will be more about Emily to love. Each book in the series is better than the last, so I can’t wait to read what she’s writing now.

One of my favorite things about the series is the way we realize that for four books, we’ve slowly watched Emily discover her mer-heritage and begin the process of growing up. She uncovers so many secrets, meets new friends, and even experiences the blossoming of first love. I can’t wait to reunite with her in the next book and see what adventures she embarks on next. I’m so pleased that the author is continuing the series and sharing it with us. I truly love Emily in a way I never initially thought I would.

EMILY WINDSNAP AND THE SIREN’S SECRET, the latest entry in the series, recently came out in paperback. Despite the title, this book isn’t just about sirens. In fact, sirens play one part. There’s a lot going on in this book. One carries over from the third in a way nobody expects, but serves to bring Emily and her friend Aaron together in an unforeseen way. Another is the way the topic of extinction through human building is at the heart of this novel. What might be different if humans knew about the existence of merfolk? Would they care? Each path in the story is intricate and laid down nicely; I loved seeing events I hoped for come to pass.

If you’re looking for a lovely series that can occupy your mind and take you away to the sea, EMILY WINDSNAP just might be for you. Each book is deeper and more complex than the last, with new mer-mythologies that are fresh and unique. Every time a new book releases, it’s like coming home and catching up with old friends, ones you’ve been parted from for much too long.

COVER DESIGN:

I love the cover design for this series. The illustrations are lovely, while still leaving actual images to one’s imagination due to the silhouettes. At the same time, it’s very clear that the series is about mermaids. When I went to Liz Kessler’s signing, I remember her stating that hopefully her next series won’t be so pink and purple in order to bring in more male readers, but I think the colors work well with this series. I also like the hand-illustrations that start off each new chapter. It really takes me back to when I read such series growing up. I think this cover rivals the first cover for my favorite in the series!