A Melody in the Deep

Cara N. Delaney brings mermaid tales (and tails?), a dashing pirate captain, and a treasure hunt to life in her novel A Melody in the Deep. Keola is the princess of Neshad, an island kingdom of merfolk. When forced into an engagement, them stealing her magic in the process, she has to decide: Will she escape and accept being without a tail or magic for the rest of her life? Or will she wed a heartless prince for a chance to be under the waves again?

The world that Cara has built is so unique and beautiful. The merfolk are descendants of the ancient sea serpents, with their own legends and rich history. Because of this, their magic is a part of their heart and soul. When it's taken from them, it's painful and scarring. The way she demonstrates this creates a vividly realistic allegory for trauma. "Every night, her heart broke all over again for what had been taken from her." When reading this, it's impossible not to empathize with Keola and her heartache. 

The character development throughout the novel is astronomical. In the beginning, Keola is heartbroken, adrift, unsure of who she is. By the end, we see her transform into a self-assured woman, willing to fight for the life she wants. 

The journey they go on to find a mystical hoard of the long-lost sea serpents is so well-thought-out it was unlike any other treasure hunt novel I've read. Paired with the tension and fear of being found ensures that readers will feel exhilarated and anxious at every turn. 

With all of the build-up, the ending feels anticlimactic and rushed in comparison. The villain is spoken of with so much fear throughout the novel. When they do appear, they don't measure up to the dread built around them. That part of the plot could have been omitted without really changing the story.

A Melody in the Deep still receives four out of five stars from me. It's a gorgeous fairytale about fighting for love and fighting for yourself. We're taught vital lessons about making sacrifices for the life we want and the people we love. I haven't even covered how beautiful the love story is. I'll leave that for you to find out yourself. The adult content is only implied, and the violence is mild, so it's a perfect read for readers 12+ looking for a unique fairytale about life, love, and adventure.