Review: The Mers by Ami Blackwelder

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The Mers by Ami Blackwelder
(Book One of Mer Chronicles)
Publisher: Eloquent Enraptures Publishing
Published: October 19, 2011
Pages: 256
Received: as part of book tour via Bewitching Book Tours
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What lies beneath the surface?
One hundred years from now, the world has
changed and brought with it, new forms of life.
Who are the Mers? Who is Mira?

Mira always knew she was different. Growing up with Mers, she never quite fit in. When Mira breaks the rules and takes Niren with heracross the border dividing Ellis Island and New Jersey, the border dividing two vastly different worlds, she thought the journey to find out who she really is would be an easy one.

But, as the world in Jersey proves to be a convoluted mix of aristocrats who hate the Mers, pirates who want to sell them, and magi who want to use them...finding her true identity will be a challenge, especially when her best friend Niren is a Mer willing to fight to the death.

Mira has always felt accepted by her family and friends, but also an outsider. She is not like the others in her village - they have webbed feet and gills, while she is the only one with fiery red hair and cannot swim to save her life. She has always thought herself more human than her Mer companions, yet she isn't 100% sure she is human either.

Mira sets out on an adventure to figure out who and what she really is and to find her real parents. She has always kind of known that she isn't a Mer, but also feels like she belongs with them. Something tugs at her until she finally breaks down and crosses the border into human lands. Will the old adage ring true, the grass is always greener on the other side?

I'm afraid of giving away spoilers, so I won't get into too much detail. I loved how there are so many surprises in this story, some I thought might happen and others blindsided me. I love when a book can catch me like that - sometimes I think I have it all figured out and am totally wrong. It is very unique and unpredictable.

This is a great dystopian book containing dashes of romance, action/adventure, fantasy and is a great story about accepting who you are and finding yourself.

I am eagerly awaiting book two in this series. 

About The Author:

Ami Blackwelder is a forbidden romance writer in the paranormal, scifi, and historical genres. Growing up in Florida, she went to UCf and in 1997 received her BA in English and teaching credentials. She travelled overseas to teach in Thailand, Nepal, Tibet, China and Korea. Thailand is considered her second home now. She has always loved writing and wrote poems and short stores since childhood; however, her novels began when she was in Thailand. She also wrote three nonfiction spiritual books at this time.

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