Between the Sea and Sky

Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore
Release Date: October 25, 2011
Bloomsbury Teen
ISBN13:  9781599904344

3/5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis:
For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

I admittedly haven't read very many mermaid books, but this cover is so eye-catching and I'm a big Little Mermaid fan so I figured, why not? Between the Sea and Sky ended up being a nice quick read, altough it ended up feeling more Middle Grade than  YA to me.

Reasons to Read:

1. Sweet Relationships:
   Esmirine's family was so loving and supportive, and just present in the story, that I loved reading about them. It can be so enjoyable to read about positive family dynamics, and even though Esmirine does end up going on a journey by herself in more of an adult sense, she does so with the support and as much assistance as her family can offer her. Plus, the entire book is set in motion because of the strong attachment and love Esmirine has for her sister. Something I love reading about in books is childhood friendship; there's something so pure and innocent about it. And that is exactly what defines the connection between Esmirine and Alandare. I was so enamoured by their relationship, especially one that was not supported by anyone really.
2. A Fascinating World:
   I loved the world Jaclyn Dolamore created with her interesting take on mermaids and the Fandarsee (people with wings) and I really would have enjoyed hearing more about it. The relationships between the different races (if I can call them that) were intriguing, as well as their curiousity with each other. It definitely gives the impression and feel of a traditional fairytale world, one where very few things are questioned and you need to accept the world as it is.

I think overall, this was just a really positive book. Kind of like a Disney movie- very happy, positive, with a tidy little ending. But that also means it's lacking an amount of depth and complexity normally found in YA books, which is why it kind of read like a Middle Grade book to me. And to be honest, the relationship between Esmirine and Alandare didn't really feel romantic at all. I could see why they were friends, but it was harder to see its progression as anything romantic.

Like I mentioned at the beginning, it's also a very quick read. Because of its short length, there also isn't time to witness much character development, or even establish a strong connection to the characters. Fast paced, nothing too shocking or dramatic, and the ending is nicely handed to you tied together in a very pretty bow. So don't expect much more from this one in terms of depth, because it really is even lighter and happier than Disney's The Little Mermaid.

I received a finished copy to review from Penguin Canada in exchange for my honest opinion; no other compensation was received. Thank you for providing me with a copy!