Author: Anne Greenwood Brown
Published: June 12th 2012 by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Urban Fantasy.
Rating: ★★★★
Goodreads summary:
Calder White lives in the cold, clear waters of Lake Superior, the only brother in a family of murderous mermaids. To survive, Calder and his sisters prey on humans, killing them to absorb their energy. But this summer the underwater clan targets Jason Hancock out of pure revenge. They blame Hancock for their mother's death and have been waiting a long time for him to return to his family's homestead on the lake. Hancock has a fear of water, so to lure him in, Calder sets out to seduce Hancock's daughter, Lily. Easy enough—especially as Calder has lots of practice using his irresistable good looks and charm on ususpecting girls. Only this time Calder screws everything up: he falls for Lily—just as Lily starts to suspect that there's more to the monsters-in-the-lake legends than she ever imagined. And just as his sisters are losing patience with him.
*thanks to the publisher for providing me an ARC in exchange for our honest thoughts! (via Netgalley)*
Emma's thoughts:
I've never really been one for mermaids and generally things involving the big, scary, deep sea, but Lies Beneath was truly a satisfying read. To me, in this book, mermaids are like underwater vampires. Deadly, hungry hunters, craving for humans. Not blood though, no. They suck the emotions from human beings. The emotions they lack themselves.
Calder White wasn't born a mermaid. No, he was 'changed' into one since before he can remember. Lies Beneath is told from his perspective (which is a nice, fresh view) and as the reader, we can sense his distance, his detachment to his sisters. Yes, sure, they're all linked in some kind of telepathic way that forces them together once a year, but he's never really been one of them. Killing humans, sucking away their happiness? That's not for Calder. I think, he's had too much time to think about life and the deep and meaningful aspects of it. I just have one question for him. What were you doing with your life before Lily?
His sisters are evil and so, so, so infuriating! I kept hoping for one to turn out to be nice, or even half decent, but they're all just backstabbing and aggravating. They have this 'plan' to get revenge on Jason Hancock who allegedly killed their mother. And the plan? Get close to the daughter, lure him out to the ocean, and then kill.
It's no surprise really that Calder falls in love with Lily Hancock, as impossible as their situation is. But there are wonderful twists and turns in the novel that really, truly blew my mind.
Calder and Lily's relationship was a bit iffy for me at the start. It felt forced, and I suppose I could say because it was actually forced on Calder's end. I liked Lily though. She was a unique, sweet character who had a strange obsession with Victorian poets. They made a strangely beautiful couple and I just want to shoot Calder's stubborn, avenging sisters for getting in the way of everything ugh.
Lies Beneath is definitely a worthwhile read about mer-beings and I'm greatly anticipating the sequel!
Overall rating: 4 stars~ An enthralling and exhilarating story!
Favourite Quotes:
"You're talking with your eyes again, Calder White. You know things. And I intend to know it all, too."
"See the stars, Lily?"
She sighed, surrendering. "Of course."
"Do you think they can see the sun coming?"
"I don't know. Probably?"
"Do you think they're scared?"
"They're burning balls of gas, Calder."
I'm so glad you enjoyed this one. I did as well. I particularly love your underwater vampire analogy. That's so true and will probably intrigue vampire lovers and bring them over to the mermaid side. :)
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