A dapper vampire. A sullen merman. Two heirs to a great conflict—and each needs to claim a beloved to become his kindred’s champion.High school senior Ember Goodwin never had a sister, but after her mom’s remarriage, she now has two. The eldest is no stranger to her—Ivy is a witty girl in her grade who’s almost never spoken to the shy bookworm before—but she’s surprised to find the popular girl … popular girl quite amiable. Their burgeoning friendship is tested, however, when Dean Horne, a pale, besuited charmer, shows interest in them both and plans to reveal his appetite for blood to the one who’ll stand by his side.
Seventeen-year-old Ivy Sheppard is tired of splitting her time between her dad’s and her mom’s, particularly when her dad uproots their lives to move them in with his new wife and step-daughter. Used to rolling with her parents’ whims, she tries to make the best of it and befriend her nerdy new step-sister. Her hectic life grows more unwieldy when she catches the eye of junior Calder Poole, whom she swears she sees swap well-toned legs for a pair of fins during a dip in a lake. Now she’s fending off suitors left and right, all while trying to get to the bottom of the strange happenings in her town.
The first book in the Blood, Bloom, & Water series sets family against family and friend against friend as an epic, ancient war comes to a head in a supposedly sleepy suburb.
Readers are saying this fast-paced YA paranormal romance urban fantasy will “grip you and keep you wanting more.” Fans of Bella Forrest’s A Shade of Vampire and Hotbloods, Amanda Hocking’s Watersong series, and Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight saga will dive right into this modern-day fairy tale about high schoolers swept up in a world of vampires, mermaids, and fairies.
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Ember and Ivy have just become sisters (or Step-sisters, as it were) since Ember’s mother married Ivy’s father. Due to an as yet to be determined Claus in the war, the 2 sides had to wait until 2 girls who lived in the house close to the consummate land to choose a Champion. Ok, so what do I say without giving away too much? Obviously, Ember was chosen to be the Champion for Dean, and Ivy was chosen for Calder. On the one hand, Dean is stronger, faster, and “seemingly” better. Calder seems kind of, um, cowardly? He runs and hides behind Ivy, whereas Dean is VERY hesitant to put Ember in direct danger. Then you have Orin. He’s the neutral ground. I don’t want to give too much away! But there is so much that happens and so many twists that I don’t think you can actually trust what you’re reading just yet! This particular author likes to throw out little nuggets of truth mixed in with misdirection so you think you have the story predicted, and you THINK you have the characters down, but really you know nothing! LOL I can’t wait for book 2!! I reserve the right to with-hold my approval for any team without further information. I feel like I might be being tricked somehow. HAHA!
I enjoyed the storyline and I thought the paranormals were a cool & different take. Merpeople and Vampires in this book was a nice touch that I haven’t ever seen before. I felt like there should have been more explaining as to the whole idea of accepting the call of champion. I would have LOVED Calder’s character if I didn’t feel like he was such a weak, pathetic, scared person. It really took away from him. He could have been fairly submissive or quiet without being cowardly. And truthfully the vampires were stuck in the old days? IDK it seems a bit farfetched especially the wearing of suits constantly. Maybe a few here or there but not all. Why wouldn’t they conform to fit in? Especially when going to highschool? I loved the sunglasses and contacts aspect that was fun. Ember just basically transforms without any explanation of why or how it happened.
I was gifted an ARC in return of an honest review.
High school is tough for any girl. Getting a step sister in senior year and trying to figure out boys is even harder. Discovering there are vampires and merefolk families are real and at war, harder still not to mention strange. Being chosen has champions for the princes of the families, confusing. Ember and Ivy find themselves is this exact situation. How will they react? How will they hide the truth? I could not put this down. Absolutely amazing start to an intriguing series. Where will the war go next?
A Tale Of Unrest In & Out The Woods & Pool!!
(Read using Kindle Unlimited)
Two new Step Sisters, one the ‘good girl’ Ember & one the ‘popular girl’ Ivy. Though they’re very different they seem like they’ll be able to get along without too much of a struggle Ivy is pleased that Ember seems to genuinely like her baby sister Autumn which helps!!
On the first day of school, since their Parents married, they are both approached by two different guys. Dean is new, old fashioned, very good looking & has a sensitivity to light. Calder is younger at 16 to their 17/18 yrs, a swimmer, tall & muscular & very good looking!! Where Ember is used to being overlooked by everyone, Ivy has had boyfriends in the past but isn’t looking for one currently!! Then we have Orin, he’s a ‘Bloom’ and is viewed as neutral – is he though? We shall have to wait and see
This is a tale pitting sisters against each other in a war that shouldn’t involve them. It’s a war that’s been waged behind the curtain of the supernatural world between two factions that want to totally annihilate the other!!
I didn’t love this book, I found it slow going.
Debbie, 1970, UK