**REVIEW** Tempest Rising by Tracy Deebs

I love the covers of these ones and I think that the tattoo is PERFECT!

Tempest Maguire wants nothing more than to surf the killer waves near her California home; continue her steady relationship with her boyfriend, Mark; and take care of her brothers and surfer dad. But Tempest is half mermaid, and as her seventeenth birthday approaches, she will have to decide whether to remain on land or give herself to the ocean like her mother. The pull of the water becomes as insistent as her attraction to Kai, a gorgeous surfer whose uncanny abilities hint at an otherworldly identity as well. And when Tempest does finally give in to the water's temptation and enters a fantastical underwater world, she finds that a larger destiny awaits her-and that the entire ocean's future hangs in the balance.

Release Date:  May 10, 2011

Published By: Walker Books for Young Readers

Review Copy:  Hardcover, 352 pages

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Review

 Where to start this one...  Those of you know me, know that I am basically mermaid obsessed and if it even hints at Mermaids or undersea I am in.  Tempest Rising sat in my collection of Mer books right beside Tempest Unleashed for longer than I had wanted but with blogging comes great responsibility (sorry I couldn't resist) and sometimes the books you want to get to take the back seat.  When I finally got to it I had big expectations and though I had a rough start with it, I had a strong finish.  Tracy has without a doubt created a beautiful and unique take on the Mer community that I found myself head deep in once I got there.

  The biggest pull with this one was the depth and detail to the world building.  Though I had issues to start, it paid off because there was a reason and a need behind it.  You get to know the place Tempest grew up and the reason she feels the need to remain with her family despite the strength of the pull the ocean has on her.  Once she is a part of the ocean and is a part of that world you see the reasons that she belongs.  Both places are beautiful and hold their own pull but it's more than that, you feel like you are there.  You feel the pull and beauty of each place and will yearn for both with Tempest.

  As far as Tempest goes we had our ups and downs.  She was very indecisive and there were times I just wanted to ask what she was thinking.   Quite simply one moment it would be that she would never consider being a part of the sea and the next it was that she didn't have a choice.  Thing was choice or not it was obvious she at least wanted to test it out and I was irritated with her for fighting it for so long.  But she was also a strong a determined character that wanted to do the right thing when it came down to it.  When all was said and done her inner turmoil was justified and I understood why she fought like she did for everything.  Inner turmoil, conflict and indecisiveness aside I ended up enjoying Tempest.

  When it comes to the romance factor in this one I am torn about what to say.  There is most definitely a triangle but I felt that it wasn't needed.  Tempest starts out with Mark and though Mark is sweet and loves Tempest, it always came off as though they were more friends than anything.  Given he is a possessive friend that clearly wants to make sure others know what is his I never really felt a spark.  What I did feel was sorry for him and the fact that both Tempest and him were grasping at something that wasn't there.  When Kona first steps into the pages it was painfully clear that he was it for Tempest.  The chemistry and emotional pull between the two was so strong I wondered why even bother fighting but instead of leaving Mark she let things go.  The triangle was resolved in the end and I was elated but it was almost too easy.  I know make up your mind right?!  Thing is I was just relieved that it was all done and worked out.

  Overall I did find myself addicted to the book and the characters in the end.  Deebs writing is really beautiful and the way the worlds took shape was wonderful.  I can't help but look forward to the next book and finding out how Tempest's story evolves.  People that are a fan of Mermaids and love triangles will love this one!!

Quotes

 It was hypocritical of me to blame him for trying to figure me out when I deliberately kept so much of myself a mystery.  But I did blame him-it was easier tan blaming myself.

I glanced down at the sea, watched as a wave stacked up.  It was the one I wanted-a little swollen, a little out of control, a little too big for any sane person to catch.  It was perfect-especially since these days I was definitely on the shady side a sanity.

"So you're an endangered species?""I wouldn't call us a species.  More like an endangered people.""Oh.  Right." Was I ever going to stop putting my foot in my mouth around him?  Doubtful, Tempest, I told myself.  Very doubtful.

At that exact moment, the only thing I was positive about was that my life was completely, totally, 100 percent screwed up-all because I'd dived into the water after a guy who hadn't even needed me.