**REVIEW** Evergreen by Brenda Pandos

A kingdom on the brink of war. 

A king on the fringes of insanity.

A family running for their lives.

Ash and Fin’s only desire is to be together and dive into their happily ever after, though their conflicting worlds work to pull them apart. Neither is ready to convert to the other’s life: become a human or a mer. Little do they know that somewhere in Natatoria a secret holds the fine fabric of everyone’s lives together. If the truth is discovered, Ash and Fin will no longer have the luxury of waiting. They’ll be forced to choose. But will it be for loyalty or love? Or will someone else make the choice for them if they can’t decide?

Enter the watery world of treachery, greed, and the binding mer kiss as the story continues with Evergreen, book two of Mer Tales.

  Release Date: June 29, 2012

Published By:  Obsidian Mountain Publishing

Review Copy: Paperback, 274 pages
**Won

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Review

   Brenda has done it again with Evergreen.  I have to say that I started this one in the afternoon and finished it early evening.  If you read Everblue and enjoyed the detailed world and creative Mers that Brenda created I have no doubt in my mind that you will be as enchanted with Evergreen.   To be honest this is one of the few exceptions where I actually like the second book more than the first and with this series that is saying a lot.  

  It's hard to tell you about the story line without spoilers from Everblue but I will try.  We start out almost exactly where we left off with Ash and Fin in a situation that is less than desirable.  This situation does leave room though to bring in some new characters and add to the already existing ones. Not to mention that Evergreen is more action packed and filled with more lies and deception.  Both Ash and Fin learn more about exactly what it will take to be together and what they may have to loose.  There is so much to loose and so little time, creating an urgency that had me glued to the pages.

  Ash and Fin's problems seem to be just adding up but I couldn't help feel that a chunk of this was self induced.  Ash was hiding some seriously important information.  Given that she felt she was protecting Fin but in all reality I think it just endangered her more and in turn made life a little harder.  She was the Ash I fell in love with self sufficient and capable but she needs to learn when to admit she is in too deep.  With Fin his white lies were a little more bearable seeing he didn't want to upset Ash but I once again felt that more truth was needed.  The big thing is that they do what they do because they love each other an heck we all make irrational decisions in the name of love.

  Bringing a little more tension to this one is Fin's cousin Colin and the princess Galariel that was the reason Fin's father was called away from home to start with.  Colin is trying to get Ash to go out with him and you don't really understand why for most of the book but you can tell that there is a reason in there somewhere.  He isn't really what I expected in the end and things are changing even for him.  Galariel is completely a wild card and even with everything that happened I don know if I trust her.  She is he type of character you try to get a grasp on but can not be sure if you ave her right or not.

  I am completely entranced with this series.  Brenda has created vivid characters and a world that you can easily loose yourself in.  The pure talent that is poured into this book and done in split points of view is basically bliss from start to finish.  Clear your schedule when you start this one because once yo start you won't want to stop.  My only problem is that I have to wait to get my hands on Everlost!

Quotes

If she told me "she understood" one more time, I'd scream.  This wasn't your typical separation.  The constant impending doom that I'd never see Fin again stole my very breath. -Ash

Galadriel was worse than a spoiled princess.  She was a manipulative witch and I had to find another place to stay.  I knew if we kept having conversations like this one, I'd lose control and who knew how far I would go.  For her safety, I needed to leave. -Fin

-I researched fish repellents.  DEET seemed to deter fish, according to the more successful anglers that left comments on various fishing forums.I rummaged through the hall medicine cabinet and found the mosquito repellent.  I'd take a bath in the stuff if it worked. -Ash