Book: Of Poseidon
Author: Anna Banks
Series: The Syrena Legacy #1
Release Date: 05/22/12
Published: MacMillan
Genres: Mythology, YA
Format: Audiobook
Narrator: Rebecca Gibel
Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins
Pages: 324 (according to Goodreads)
Book Overview:
Of Poseidon follows two main characters, Emma and Galen, and their interactions with one another. Galen is a Syrena (or mermaid, but that term is very offensive to the Syrena). Emma is believed to be human, but is she?
The book opens with Emma and her best friend on vacation in Florida when Emma runs into Galen on the beach. This is their first meeting of what will become a budding romance. When trouble hits Emma and her friend while in the ocean, Galen rushes to try and save them when he witnesses Emma using powers she shouldn't posses. These powers prove to Galen that she could be the key to saving his kingdom.
Told from first point of view (POV) of Emma and third POV of Galen we get to see how a Syrena learns and acts out of water with humans and also how a once thought to be human react to the knowledge she might be a Syrena of Poseidon.
Overall Thoughts:
So I'm adding in this section because I have a LOT to say about this book and I don't know how much of it I can separate out into each section. I'm going to do my best to avoid spoilers, if I need to go into spoilery details I will post those in my goodreads review and hide them.
Let me start off by saying this book had potential. I was very excited about a decent mermaid book going into this but I was so wrong! I've heard a lot of wonderful things about this series and it's story that I was very surprised at what I was reading. There was so much going on I had a hard time keeping track of various characters and plot points. I was so baffled by some of the things happening that I ended up giving a play by play to my coworkers, which helped keep things straight in my mind.
While I really disliked the majority of this book, I couldn't stop listening to it! I was intrigued with the story and where it was heading even though it was making me angry and I found more humor in it than fantastic love story.
The descriptions the author uses are cringe worthy and often hilarious. Here are some examples that I made sure to jot down:
Sculpted bulk of granite
Tingles (used so often)
Goosebumps farm
Blob of water
Goosebumps to my baby toes
Finding an island
Sweet white haired angelfish
These are just the ones I wrote out/remember off the top of my head. If I were to read it again I would keep track of how many times the words 'tingles' and 'blob' were used. The angelfish nickname would be cute if I didn't despise of Galen so much. The term 'Schizo' was also used and I didn't appreciate the way of which it was used, it wasn't needed.
All of the relationships in this book are very toxic. The Syrena have their own ways of doing things, but they're portrayed so poorly that it makes it even more infuriating the things they say/do. Not only are the male Syrena toxic with their creepy, stalker, controlling aesthetic, but Emma's relationship with her mom is also toxic. The way her mom acts and treats all the situations is unparentlike and makes you question so much! Not to mention Galen is basically stalking Emma cross country and practically kidnapping her on multiple occasions and doesn't anything wrong in his actions.
I know there is a culture difference between human and the Syrena but I wish it was even more exaggerated. Had Galen, and the other Syrena, been even more ignorant and had better character/culture development I think it could have been well done.
There is also some definite insta love in this book! As well as, very early on, the dreaded he released a breath he didn't know he was holding. These two tropes were so obvious that it made me frustrated from very early on.
I also had an issue with continuity throughout the entire book! There were many instances were one thing was said and within a chapter or two something completely different would be contradict the information.
Now I'm dragging on this book quite a bit, but I do plan on reading the second and probably the third. As mentioned, I'm intrigued by what is going to happen, I'm just not a fan of the writing style. I also feel like there was very poor world and character building. There is so much potential with mermaid stories that I was expecting much more than I was giving.
(Woo! No spoilers!)
Characters:
The characters are on a whole other spectrum. I can honestly say that I wasn't attached to any of these characters too much. Toraf redeemed himself slightly towards the end of the book but he's still creepy and stalkerish. Granted that is how the Syrena are, so it's clearly cultural but there are so many issues with thinking some of his actions are okay.
The only character I rooted for was the human, Mark, who we only see a very little bit of throughout the entire book.
The Syrena culture is one where the men obviously rule and the women just go along with whatever they have to say, at least that's how Galen acts. I really disliked Galen as a person. He's controlling, misogynistic, creepy, rude, stalkerish, and not a good person. Yes he seems to try a slight little bit, but his trying is really just controlling. His relationship with Emma is very toxic and what kills me is that she SEES that it is wrong but still "loves" him.....can we not? I want to give him the benefit of the doubt since it is his culture and he is royal, but the world and character development was so poorly done that his misogynistic ways make absolutely no sense.
I guess I liked Rachel enough. Didn't really have much of a problem with her, in fact I want to know more about her. But the fact that she helps him essentially kidnap Emma on multiple occasions also makes her toxic.
The other characters don't really stand out, other than most of them have names I can't remember and don't even want to begin trying to spell them. Galen's sister grew on me a little more as we got further into the book but other than that I didn't care too terribly much for any of the other Syrena.
What I liked:
I really like the overall idea of this story. I want to know what happens next, even if the characters and writing drive me nuts.
What I disliked:
I really disliked the world building and character development, it felt like everything was flat and very convenient. The other thing that really irked me was the descriptors and the way this book looks down on women. As I've mentioned there are some very strong sexist themes and very misogynistic attitudes.
Conclusion:
In conclusion I didn't fully hate this book but I will never read it again. I do want to continue the series, and have already downloaded the last two books. Not sure if I will read the short stories that go along with it or not, but I am excited to see what happens to our cast of characters. I'm also hoping the writing and world building get stronger in the last two books. I was initially going to give this either a 1 or 1.5 star rating but there was just enough mystery and interest that I'm comfortable giving it a 2.
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