The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova

For Tristan Hart, everything changes with one crashing wave.
He was gone for three days. Sucked out to sea in a tidal wave and spit back ashore at Coney Island with no memory of what happened. Now his dreams are haunted by a terrifying silver mermaid with razor-sharp teeth.
His best friend Layla is convinced something is wrong. But how can he explain he can sense emotion like never before? How can he explain he’s heir to a kingdom he never knew existed? That he’s suddenly a pawn in a battle as ancient as the gods.
Something happened to him in those three days. He was claimed by the sea…and now it wants him back.

Goodreads Summary


Ready for a summer mermaid read?  The author introduces the reader to the main protagonist, Tristan, early on in the novel.  Tristan is slowly changing into something he is not quite sure of, but has no choice in.  Get ready to dispel the idea that only females can be mermaids...males can be mermaids, er, mermen too!  Tristan knows he must get to the bottom of these odd changes and goes in search of his family, unexpectedly diving a little deeper into his past than he would care to. 

The story takes off as soon as Tristan goes searching for some answers.  The reader will view the eerily quiet and chaotic underwater world through Tristan's eyes.   The underwater world is both terrifying and beautiful.  The author clearly invested a great deal of time in creating the perfect setting and slight tension underlying the plot, keeping the reader firmly on her hook.  The idea of diving into a new world is both exciting and scary, the author evokes both emotions, as well as a host of others, in the reader. 

Tristan's character is dynamic during the story.  He does seem to mature and grow throughout the novel.  The author writes the male point of view with ease, even perfection.  The other characters, particularly those of the underwater persuasion, were exciting to meet.  The love interest was good, but sometimes felt forced (my only complaint).  Overall, this story is highly recommended to young adult/teen readers.

4 Stars


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