Just outside of the big city limits of Lexington, Kentucky, the small and mysterious town of Shady Oaks exists. With a eerily welcoming presence, it offers its residents charm, beauty, and secrets. Surrounded by a large forest and rivers, this secluded town provides the perfect scene for supernatural and paranormal events to occur. Only, the humans haven’t learned of the secrets their alluring … town holds. Or have they?
Fall into the first story of this Adult twisted tale of your favorite fairy tale story.
My life was almost perfect until the unthinkable happened. Darkness began to surround me everyday, almost to the point I’m tempted to let it take my humanity away just to end the pain.
My best friend Edna is the only one that talks to me anymore. My own mother even despises me. She is a mermaid like me. The only difference is, she wants to lose her humanity but not until she makes my life miserable.
Most of the town thinks I murdered someone, but I didn’t. I would never kill the only light I had in my life. My ex boyfriend Gage and his father Mr. Cada are threatening me and using the town to get back at me for a crime I didn’t commit.
The only way to stop both my mother and Mr. Cada is to sacrifice myself. Something I really don’t want to do, but have no choice. I don’t get to have a happy ever after.
This is a paranormal twist on classic fairy tale story in the Shady Oaks series. This series of books twists your favorite fairy tales, legends, and myths into paranormal and supernatural stories. Each one is labeled for either young adults or adults, so make sure to pick carefully. The series is a collaborative effort by multiple authors from Kingston Publishing Company.
Each book is generally a stand-alone, so you can read them in any order.
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Wailing Waters by Karen DuBose is a paranormal “adult romance” novel. This is a story that follows 18-year-old Ariel. Ever since the sudden death of her father two years ago, the town has treated her like a pariah. Her mother treats her like she wishes that she is gone and seeks revenge on her because of the fact that Ariel’s dad cared about her so much. Ariel is walking a dangerous path, she is trying desperately to hold on to her humanity and not let the darkness in, but how long can she hold on with her mother gunning for her and her ex-boyfriend and his dad threatening her?
When I first grabbed this book I had my own thoughts about how this book was possibly going to go. As I read, I found that what I was expecting was completely off. I like the twist that the author writes with this story that Ariel has to take care to maintain her humanity. The town seems like a unique place, especially since a vampire is able to walk around in broad daylight and not be impacted by it. The story makes the characters seem so normal, which is good on a level, but it also takes away because, for me, it makes the story a bit bland.
I enjoyed parts of this story, but as a whole, it just seems flat to me. The characters are very two dimensional. I kept waiting for the author to give me more details about the characters. I wanted background, history…something! I was also disappointed with discrepancies in the story. They throw off the flow of the storyline. The two biggest ones are when Ariel is at her aunt’s house. One minute she’s dressed for the day in one outfit, and then a few paragraphs later she’s changing OUT of her pajamas again into a dress her aunt just brought her. This story is supposed to be an “adult” romance, but it feels more like a coming of age/teen novel because the characters are still in high school and they don’t really act mature.
I honestly wanted to like this book since I am such an avid reader of paranormal romance novels, but for me, this book falls flat. The characters are two dimensional, there are discrepancies in the storyline, we don’t get a lot of background or depth to the story, and the characters feel more juvenile/teen (15-16) than adult. I am rating this book 3.5 out of 5 stars. I probably came with too high of expectations for this novel, but I feel that it needs to be gone back over and fleshed out. The potential is there, but just not realized this time around.
Modern twist on a classic fairytale- loved it!! I loved watching Arielana and the theists and turns of her story. Definitely recommend as a quick read because you can’t put it down!
This adult version of Little Mermaid, is awesome. I loved the dark twist to this fairytale. This story draws you in and keeps you hooked to the end. Twists, turns, darkness, light, ups and downs!! This story has it all, fantastic read.
I absolutely loved this book. I was shocked at the end because it didn’t end the way I thought it should, however the whole storyline was fantastic and i enjoyed reading it.
I like the idea of a town where the paranormal can live and have what each species needs. Ariel faces the disdain of the town and surprisingly, her mother as well, after the loss of her father. I was surprised by the ending. I really hope there is more to Ariel’s story in a future book. She deserves more.
Wailing Waters is an amazing twist on one of my favorite fairy tales.
An adult modern twist to this classic and I absolutely loved it. The book drew me in from the very get go. The characters had so much depth, sass and determination! A great storyline and I couldn’t put it down the moment I first read it. A definite must read! You won’t regret it!
An awesome well written paranormal fairytale of the little mermaid! Great storyline, fab characters, this adult fairytale is full of drama, darkness, friendship and twists and turns and is definitely not a Disney tale! Well worth a read!
Karen Du Bose doesn’t disappoint! Arielana is a mermaid and has had a great life up until a tragic accident that leaves her on her own with her angry mother. As Ariel tries to figure out who killed her father more tragedies happen. Ariel’s team of support, her aunt, her BFF Edna, and a new flame that she would love to discover if she can figure out this mess of a life. She must sacrifice everything to keep her friends and family safe!
This is a different and darker take on the Little Mermaid. I enjoyed the build in the story and the action along with the mystery.
A riveting retelling of a classic fairytale. Karen’s immersive writing has you right in the mix of things as Ariel, a mermaid, fights to keep her humanity after her father dies. Her mother, a vindictive monster, sets out to destroy her daughter and turn the people of Shady Oaks against Ariel.
A typical teenager, besides the mermaid part, Ariel is filled with various emotions and sometimes has to visit the lake putting those confusing, hurtful, and angry feelings into song. Ariels’s mother hates her because she was jealous her husband spent so much time with his daughter and doted on her. After his death, she promised the waters would take Ariel before she herself will surrender to the wailing waters of Shady Oaks
Ariel depends on her Aunt Ursula, best friend Edna, Erick, the guy that’s into her, and the mysterious dyad, Morgana, to help her save Shady Oaks and the various magical townspeople. Morgana issues a warning to Ariel about the darkness swirling in her heart.
Can Ariel save Shady Oaks? Will she be able to save herself from the darkness and keep her humanity?
I absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves stories about magical creatures and fairytales reimagined.
I’m excited to read more from Karen DuBose!
I love a fairytale retelling story, and Karen hooked me from page one. It has a great storyline and amazing characters. Some names you recognize like Erick and Ursula. It has twists, turns, ups, downs, you don’t know which way its going! It’s definitely worth the emotional roller coaster ride! I recommend this book to anyone who loves retellings.
I liked this story as a whole, but in my opinion it needed a little more. More backstory, more character building, more fleshing out of the story, I guess. I would have liked it better if there was more details, and maybe if it were a bit longer? It definitely has its good points, and it shows promise. It seems more directed for a younger audience, in my opinion. If you like twists on fairytales, give it a chance. It was a good book, I just wish it had been a little fuller.
I throughly enjoyed this book. Arielana lives in a small supernatural community of Shady Oaks. Where wolfshifters and vampire’s and even mermaids can live among each other it doesn’t mean they all get along that’s for sure. As for Arielana she has struggled with alot since her father’s Death 2 years ago. But she never thought she have to clear her name of murder or that the only parent she has left would despise her. she must learn to trust people she never thought she would and maybe even find a few new friends along the way
This twisted fairytale was such a great read. This was my first read from Karen Dubose and she kept me invested the entire time. I couldn’t wait to read more and finished the book in one sitting. I will be checking out more titles from her!