Of Poseidon (The Syrena Legacy, 1)

Anna Banks really surprised and totally floored me with Of Poseidon. The Syrena mythology she weaves into the story is utterly fascinating and coupled with her clever writing, it makes up one brilliant and highly entertaining novel. The overall storyline is complex, but still simple and easily understandable. It piques interest and is definitely well developed as a whole.' My favorite part of this book is the alternating point of views of Emma and Galen. Anna Banks is brilliant for doing this because I believe it brought more depth to the story. She made Emma and Galen's voice clearly distinguishable so I knew who exactly was narrating. It allowed the reader to connect more with Emma and Galen as individuals and when they were together. The split POVs definitely gave the book more character. I loved getting to know Emma this way, getting to Galen in another way and seeing how they each made one another feel. I also loved the fact that this helped me see the story in full circle. Emma is one heck of a narrator. Her strong and gripping voice really grabbed me. She was hilariously funny almost every moment. The inner workings of her mind were immensely amusing. I connected with her effortlessly. I loved her energetic personality, her stubbornness and even her wild tempers. I especially enjoyed her kind-heartedness. Her overall good nature left me admiring Emma all the way. I really loved that she stood her ground and that she didn't let anyone step all over her. She was spunky and snarky and all kinds of awesome. I adored Galen so much. At first I thought he would be a snob considering his title and superiority as a Royal, but he was nothing of the sort. Sure, he was regal and poised and had this air of power around him, but he was immensely enchanting, super charming to bits and definitely seductive in more ways than one. I loved his sense of humor and even some of his innocence towards human life. I enjoyed watching him squirm around Emma and I liked that I got to see his internal struggle of choosing between love and duty. For me, Galen was otherworldly and beautiful. He's all kinds of romantic and he's sweet to the bone. He's loyal and he really cares for the people he holds dear to his heart. If I could have him for myself, I would keep him forever. I loved how Galen could push Emma's buttons and I loved that Emma could take Galen's breath away. The tension between the two was mounting up to that one moment and it was worth the wait.' I really loved the setting of the book and getting to know the Syrena world bit by bit. I was extremely captivated by the Syrena. I loved knowing about the Royals, learning their customs and ways of life. I enjoyed being introduced to sifting and mating rituals and learning about the two powerful houses: Poseidon and Triton. I liked that Anna Banks added some background story, giving enough information to make everything clear, but still keeping readers in the dark by hiding essential details that will be revealed in the future books to come. Overall, Of Poseidon was a fun and very quick read! It definitely met my high expectations. With a fantastic storyline full of frustrating and teasing romance and engrossing adventures, Of Poseidon will not only please you, it will enrapture you. And with the ending that could kill, you'll begging for more Emma and Galen and the rest of the Syrena!

I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect from this book. While I was excited about reading it I don’t really read too many mermaid stories. Anna Banks really surprised me with Of Poseidon and I actually fell in love with this story about a chapter into the book. Emma and Galen’s story was truly one to behold and I really enjoyed reading about them. Plus it was dual pov between the two of them and you know I love a good dual pov. Galen and Emma meet on a beach for the first time and while they both feel an instant connection something goes terribly wrong. Now Emma is starting high school without her best friend and just when she thinks things can’t get worse, Emma sees Galen again. Now he’s revealing to her that not everything is as it appears. Emma can communicate with fish and can stay under water for long periods of time. She doesn’t want to believe it though. That is until Galen shows her his fin. Galen knows that Emma an abomination half-breed has the gift of Poseidon. She could save the kingdoms by reuniting them again and he wants nothing more than to be with her. So Galen and Emma have an instant attraction and even when they start really liking each other it takes a while for their relationship to pick up, mostly because they argue all the time like Daemon and Katy from Obsidian. It’s honestly pretty funny since I enjoy witty banter. Emma just lost her best friend to a shark and starting high school is hard for her without her. She doesn’t think there is anything special about her. Her mom and she aren’t the best of friends and her dad died. Starting high school alone is tough. After meeting Galen and learning all the secrets about herself that she never knew she begins looking for clues as to who and what she is. Emma takes most things in stride and is a tough cookie. She doesn’t let anyone walk all over her or anything and I liked that. Galen is of course gorgeous in every way and high school girls frighten him which is hilarious. I enjoyed reading his angst over high school and Emma like a human. Galen is definitely an interesting character. He is the Prince over the Triton family and he is almost compelled to follow the rules and have everyone fall in line with them, which of course Emma never does. Emma and he are constantly butting heads because Galen has always followed the rules but being with Emma would break them. It’s a constant back and forth and one of the reasons why their romantic relationship takes so long to form. Honestly, I fell in love with this story. I loved Emma and Galen’s characters and just everything about this story was pretty funny. I loved the jealousy Galen felt around Emma when she was hanging out with other guys of when he stalked her on her date which was hilarious. I loved Goliath who is a giant whale and adorable. I especially loved the cliffhanger at the end since while I kind of saw it coming I wasn’t sure so Emma’s parents identity is kept secret until the end which is awesome. Plus mythology was thrown in and Ann Banks certainly did a fine job of creating such a great and compelling story. Teaser: “Emma, we don't have to kiss. She already knows I want to sleep with you." He cringes as soon as he says it. He doesn't have to look up to know the sizzling sound in the kitchen is from Rachel spitting her pineapple juice into the hot skillet. "What I mean is, I already told her I want to sleep with you. I mean, I told her i wanted to sleep with you because she already thinks I do. Want to, I mean-" If a Syrena could drown, this is what it would feel like.” Swoon: "His mouth covers mine, cutting me off. This kiss isn't gentle like the first one. It's definitely not sweet. It's rough, demanding, searching. And disorienting. There's not a part of me that isn't melting against Galen, not a part that isn't combusting with his fevered touch. I accidentally moan into his lips. He takes it for his cue to life me off my feet, to pull me up to his height for more leverage. I take his groan for my cue to kiss him harder."

[...] There are times in life when you just need a good, light-hearted book to get you through an especially tiring or stressful day, and with my final exams coming up, I sure as heck need a whole truckload of them in the next couple of weeks! Luckily for me, I have a whole list of books I've always wanted to read, plus the exciting new releases this month. "Of Poseidon" has been on my to-read list for a while now, and I finally got the chance to whip it out...yesterday. Yes, I gobbled up the book in a day--it was just what I needed! When Galen, the prince of the Syrena, encounters a girl who can talk to fish, he knows she's one of them, and is determined to know more about her. Emma's lived a normal human life for all of her eighteen years, until one day, she literally stumbles into an incredibly attractive young man. Little does she know that from that day onward--the very same day of a deadly shark encounter--everything is about to change. The characters of "Of Poseidon" are your typical YA cast of characters--and I love 'em! Emma and Galen are both likable, strong characters, and you get a really good sense of their distinct personalities through the chapters of the book, which are told alternating between the two's points of view. (I do have to insert here that I felt like the present tense was pretty awkward when told from a third-person point of view, though!) Luckily, Emma isn't one of those annoying, whiny heroines, which seem to be a little too prevalent in a lot of YA books. Instead, she's witty and honest, with a good head on her shoulders. It's also interesting to see things from Galen's perspective, especially with the whole mysterious Syrena business going on. One criticism I have about the two's relationship is that it just happened a little too perfectly. As in, "I-feel-that-spark-between-us-O-M-G" perfect. Sure, there was the initial denial and misunderstandings between the two of them, punctuated here and there with some arguments, but everything got resolved quickly and cleanly--a little too much so. Nonetheless, there's undeniable chemistry between the Emma and Galen, particularly as the relationship developed throughout the book. The rest of the characters were equally as likable--maybe even more so! Rayna and Toraf make an interesting and cute pair, with her hot temper and his undying devotion to her. I especially like Toraf's witty, laidback personality and the way that played off with his sappier feelings of love for his mate. I'm definitely pretty bummed that Chloe, Emma's sassy, confident best friend, couldn't have stayed in the story for longer! She would undoubtedly spice things up in the novel and add so much to the character dynamics...maybe Ms. Banks shouldn't have done what she did with Chloe! Another thing I was a little iffy about was the character of Emma's mom. She seemed a little too teenagerish for my standards, even if she's meant to be one of those more relaxed, 'liberal' moms. I mean, stomping your foot? Not even teenagers do that! The storyline of "Of Poseidon" was generally rather easy-going and smooth, mostly following Galen and Emma as their romance progressed and as Emma learned about who she is. I think there could've been more of a real climax, though, because there weren't moments when your heart began to race in anticipation of what happened next. Instead, I think "Of Poseidon" is generally more of an easy read, introducing the characters and the concept of Syrena and so on. Maybe the sequel will have more action in it. Overall, Anna Banks's "Of Poseidon" is a flirty, fun read with a fun cast of characters and an intriguing new take on mermaids. It's definitely not a literary, classic masterpiece, but it's great for times when you need an easy-going book--plus it has such a beautiful cover! I'll also be checking out the sequel, "Of Triton", which is being released this May! Rating: 3.5/5

While reading Of Poseidon I kept asking myself the same question, over and over again. "Why on earth is this the first time I'm reading a book about merfolk?!!" Vampires, witches, werewolves, shapeshifters, ghosts, and aliens, been there-done that. But this is the first time I've sought out and read a story with mermaids. Except, in Of Poseidon these partial fish-people are referred to as Syrena and actually don't particularly take kind to being called mermaids (quick tip). Galen, besides being an unbelievably attractive specimen, is also a Syrena prince. These two elements plus his kind and protective nature makes him a dangerous triple-threat to both Emma and the readers alike. I instantly liked Galen. You hear prince and you immediately think privileged and possibly over-indulged. But that wasn't the case. Although he is a Syrena prince who is a. expected to hate humans because he's Syrena and b. expected to be overly snobbish because of his royalty, Galen comes out surprisingly warm and compassionate. Unlike many of his fellow Syrena, he's capable of making human connections and quite literally, friends. Although hes's very unlike other Syrena, that doesn't mean it comes easy. I found that the majority of my favorite parts of this book revolved around Galen learning about "human ways". The conversation below takes place between Galen and his best friend, subject, and fellow Syrena, Toraf. "Jackass," Galen mutters. "Jackass? What's a jackass?" "Not sure. Emma called me that today when she was irritated with me." "You're insulting me in human-talk now?" Because of a tip he received from a friend, Galen is scouring the beaches in Florida, desperately seeking out a girl who may have the ability to communicate with fish. I don't know about anyone else, but when I first read that a mermaid Syrena was seeking out a girl who may or may not be a fish whisperer I was kind of confused. Although I'd never read any other mer-centric books, I'd always just assumed that communicating with undersea creatures was a mer-speciality. Nope. Apparently it's not as rare a gift as one would think. Then there's Emma. Although a Jersey Shore resident, Emma is vacationing in Florida with her best friend Chloe when she runs into Galen. Literally. She smacks right into his shirt-less and of course, majorly chiseled chest. This first meeting followed by, as the synopsis says a "deadly" shark encounter, sets up the beginning of a humorous, thrilling, sizzling, and at times heartbreaking story that had me fervently turning the pages. I found that this book had a lot of great things going for it. It had a mix of fabulous characters, all jumping off the page with their own quirky and unique personalities. The folklore and history surrounding the Syrena was rich and incredibly interesting. Sometimes in supernatural books, the author's explanations for "why" and "how come" and "how it came to be" falls on the unbelievable side. However, this is not the case with Of Poseidon. I found the details and back story of the Syrena, where they've been and how they continue to be, extremely solid and believable, within the world Ms. Banks has created. Everything just "belonged". With 5 out of 5 stars I CANNOT wait for the next installment. Not only was there a heck of a cliffhanger; I need more Galen.

The last mermaid book I read was Jackson Pearce's Fathomless, and it was one of my favorites. I've been looking for another great take on mermaids since then (even if it isn't at all related to The Little Mermaid), so I finally decided to give Of Poseidon a shot. And I am so upset with myself that I didn't read it sooner! Complete with incredible world-building, a decades-old mystery, pop culture references, humor, and romance, this book is definitely one you don't want to pass over! Although this book takes place in our world, the supernatural touch that Banks put on it is very well done. Beneath the sea is a whole world that humans know nothing about, although the Syrena are well aware of the humans. I really enjoyed learning about the Syrena from Galen as he tries to figure out how to tell Emma about his people, and also as he travels between the two worlds. I found there to be quite a bit of world-building that is more subtle than in-your-face, which I really enjoyed. Plus, all of it is a great mix of mythical and realistic, and I could totally believe that the Syrena are real. I absolutely adored all of the characters. Even the minor characters are so well developed, and I love that there are so many subplots running alongside Emma and Galen's story. There's the Grom and Nalia story, Toraf and Rayna, Rachel, the cold war between the Poseidon and Triton camps, and so much more. I didn't know so many plots could all coexist in one book and be done well, but Banks does it perfectly! It never seems like there's too much going on, and all of the stories fit so well together. It's like a gorgeous puzzle that you just keep finding more pieces to. I think one of my favorite things about this book was how the alternating perspectives were done. While Emma's chapters are first person, Galen's chapters are third person. Although it took me by surprise the first time it happened, it becomes very natural after that. The pacing doesn't slow down at all because of it, and I think it adds more to the story than if the whole book had been first person. I also really enjoyed watching Emma and Galen change from each others' perspective (as well as their own), because it makes for some pretty hilarious commentary. Both of the characters have pretty great senses of humor, and I actually laughed out loud several times! Actually, Rayna can also deal out the snarky comments too, and had me giggling most of the time. The romance is well done too. Galen follows Emma because he thinks she might have an important gift, and intends to bring her home for his brother to mate with. He never expects to fall in love with her, so the romance is very slow and believable. The two fall for each other because of their flaws, not in spite of them, and I'm always a big fan of that. Toraf and Rayna's relationship is well-done too, and the character dynamic between all four of them is so easy and well done. I found myself really wanting to be a part of their little group. Everything about this book is just wonderful. The mix of romance with Greek mythology and mystery and adventure is a perfect blend. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a supernatural romance with more of a story. Also, to any fans of Fathomless, and to anyone who wants a fun summer read. I honestly think there's something in this book for everyone. A 5/5, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series!

This will be a quick review, as I've seen so many when I bought this that would cover what I mean to say in depth. 1st: I bought this book because of my interest in mare-folk, but definitely not because of the reviews. The book sounded childish to me, to be honest. And in some ways it was, mainly the way the characters talk and react, like they are highschoolers (which they technically are) and not young adults. That sounds horrible, but it really isn't, because Banks' writing is not juvenile. In fact i almost gave it 4 stars, because It can be surprisingly deep and complex. You come to care for every character, and long for their reactions. But it is not quite there for me. Maybe a list of likes and dislikes would help: Likes: It's fun and fast paced Emma and Galen's love is delicious like chocolate mousse pie. Rich and involving. And it grows like normal human love, but at the same time it's magical. They have the perfect amount of sass and thoughtfulness for each other The secondary characters are delightful and you yearn to know them better It's funny AND romantic It is very appropriate regarding sex and other decisions a young person has to make. So much so I'm buying it for my teenager niece The sexist Syrena society didn't hurt the book for me, especially because the main characters are against it Dislikes: All the exaggerated teenager lingo ("ohmysweetgoodness" there was SO much of it, especially considering the main character is 18 years old) The shallow and cliche view of mare-folk The typical cliche high-school scenes (like girls being retarded just because there's a handsome boy, or territorial guys fighting like poultry for a girl) Overall: It is a good book for people who are looking for something fun and light, with loads of romance. I'll definitely read the next one (especially because of the Cliff hanger!) Ps: after reading the last book of the series I'm coming back to this review to give some warning: it doesn't end well. Not in a sense that it ends badly for the characters, but it is just not a good ending, not well made. I am an older person reading teenage books, so that might be it, but the trilogy as a hole was too juvenile for me. I would probably still give it as a gift to my 12 year-old niece, though. I have reviewed the last one, so check that out if you want to know more.

I have been waiting for this book, wanting to get my hands on it for a while. The cover is gorgeous and the synopsis sound really good. I am so thrilled I finally was able to read this book and it did not disappoint! Mermaid books seems to be everywhere lately, I have read quite a few in the past few weeks. What makes this one stand out? The story: This story has a lot of the basic mermaid myth and fokelore and then some added goodies. The story has a lot of intrigue and mystery surrounding Emma and her gift and what she really is. Myth, mystery, and mermaids make a great story. Emma meets Galen while on vacation and is drawn to him right away, the same goes for Galen. After a tragedy hits Emma travels back home to find Galen starting at her school. She cannot quite figure out what his deal is, his behavior is quite odd. When Galen first laid eyes on Emma, he knew something was different about her. Her eyes were the same as his, so he keeps his eyes on her. He notices other things that seem to be out of place and he cannot figure out what she is. He follows her back to her home time and basically starts to stalk her, in a non threatening way. He is sure she is one of his kind, but her skin color and hair color is off. Once the mystery is solved and the truth is out there, Emma and Galen find themselves spending a lot of time together, getting to know each other, falling for each other. Of course they are both stubborn and will not give away their feelings for each other. It's like a game of cat and mouse, and the cat and mouse really love each other. It was very amusing and even though it was dragged out just a bit, it was not annoyingly so. The characters: This is where all the fun is. My goodness what a wonderful cast of characters. Emma is snarky! I love Snarky! She is stubborn, independent, and listens to no one... especially Galen! Galen is cute, cocky, naïve about human ways and very very entertaining. I would love this guy to be in my life! I completely fell head over heels for him. The secondary characters are just as great! Rayna, Galen's sister, Toraf, Galen's best friend, and Rachel, Galen's human friends make the story even more entertaining. They each bring in their own added bonus of sarcasm and laughs. I became attached to each and every character in this book. The story was intriguing, different, and so so entertaining. I felt as if I was on a thrill ride the entire way through. The writing style is just amazing, it felt as if the author was a seasoned author. Everything fell into place at a great pace, no slow parts, no waiting, I couldn't stop the story. I was completely engulfed. Another awesome mermaid story for my pile! The only downside, the ending left me hanging! I have to eagerly wait until the next installment to be released.

Of Poseidon by Anna Banks is another of my most anticipated reads for 2012 and I am thankful it didn't fail to disappoint, it kept me riveted from the first to the very last page. Galen is a Syrena Prince and on land to find someone he has heard about who has possibly broken the syrena law by fraternizing with humans and who he believes also holds the Gift of Poseidon, the ability to communicate with the marine life and someone who could be the key to ending the feud between the House of Triton and House of Poseidon. Emma whilst holidaying with her best friend accidentally (literally) runs into the gorgeous Galen but he and his sister Rayna who is with him aren't exactly friendly but they are extremely intrigued by her; it is whilst on this beach that she loses her friend to a shark attack and Galen sees firsthand Emma utilize her abilities but there is doubt about who and what she is because of her physical differences and the fact she is clueless about what they are. Galen believes Emma is the last living proof of the Poseidon line which dwindles her choice of a mate to one, Galen's brother Grom but it doesn't stop him holding deep feelings for her, but nothing he can act on. I loved the chemistry, attraction and banter between Galen and Emma - at times he came across stalker-ish but I think it was more out of naivety than to cause grief; she always seemed to set him straight about it anyway. They tiptoed around their feelings which led to a bit of miscommunication but I really adored them together and am keen to see how it progresses, if it does in the sequel. I thoroughly enjoyed the fantasy and mythology Ms Banks offered us, I am not a big fan of `mermaid' books but I was instantly intrigued by Of Poseidon. The world building was fascinating; I was mesmerized by the detail provided of the underwater world and its dwellers. I found the switch between Emma's first person POV and Galen's third person POV to be quite confusing at times; I tend to prefer one or the other, other than this I really enjoyed Ms Banks detailed writing. Of Poseidon is filled with life changing discoveries for Emma but she adapts well. She is a character who is feisty and despite what she went through in the beginning of the book she came through with strength and courage. Galen is also a character who I felt grew; he had huge responsibilities and was noble in his quest to solve the underwater world problems. I also enjoyed the secondary characters although I found Emma's mother to be quite strange; Rayna and Toraf were great as was Rachel. Overall, Of Poseidon was a captivating read with a unique premise. I am definitely eager to get hold of the next book in this series.

I thoroughly enjoyed the story as it was a bit different. Not unlike a wet version of Twilight! I wanted to know what happened next, always a good story if that's how much it grabs a reader. I hope we have a follow on story . Well written, easy to read.

Book Review Title: Of Poseidon Author: Anna Banks Genre: YA/Fantasy/Romance Rating: ***** Review: The opening chapters to this novel were divine, we are introduced to Emma our protagonist staying with her best friend Chloe in Florida before heading back to school. It is here she meet Galan by accident, Galen is a Syrena or mermaid/merman and he believes that Emma is one of them she just doesn't know it. Galen gets the first glimpse he is right when Emma takes on a shark and wins using some veru unconventional methods. From the offset I loved both Emma and Galan as characters but it is a slightly depressing start to a series. As we approach the 1/4 mark in the novel Emma and Galen have developed a sort of love/hate relationship with Galen trying to figure out if Emma knows what she is and even if she is one of them. We also begin to learn about mermaid culture and how they socialize, mate and survive out of human sight. We learn there are two type of mermaid; Poseidon & Triton and each type can be sensed by the other, we also learn a little of their past and laws. My favourite part was learning exactly how Emma would fit into their society if she is what they think she is. Galen and Emma begin to get closer, the spark between them growing especially after Galen reveals what he is and by extension what Emma is. Emma doesn't really seem to react at first as her brain is trying to work out whether her parents are actually her parents or whether she was adopted. I have a feeling that Emma and Rayna won' get along at all especially after their little performance on the beach which was very entertaining to read. As we approach the half way mark in the novel Galen and Emma continue to work on their faux-relationship and even Rayna makes a show of being kind towards Emma and she continue to learn about the Syrena. I liked the internal struggle Galen is facing because he is attracted to Emma but knows if she truly becmes one of them she will be mated to his older brother Grom as their law states. As we cross into the second half of the novel, everything begins to get better until Paca is mentioned, she is supposed to have the gift of Poseidon and Toraf has been enlisted to find her, and this is made even more important when Toraf senses someone following Emma even leaving the water to do so. As we approach the 3/4 mark in the novel Emma learns that she has some key difference between herself and other Syrena like Galen for one her heartbeat is a lot faster than Galen's but slower than the average humans. Now she is begin to understand what she is and how special she is compared to others like Galen, Toraf and Rayna and I am wondering what is going to happen to Emma when other Syrena learn of her existance especially the royals. As Emma begins to ask about her hertiage and parentage, Galen seems to believe that her father was a half-breed like her meaning they were half human and half syrena; the descendents of Poseidon. This does have a down side as no other Syrena will accept Emma as one of their own and it is likely she will never find her Syrena form and live as Galen does. Galen then considers the fact that Grom would never mate with a half-breed leaving it clear for him to mate with Emma but in order to do so he would have to sacrifice his long life, his position and his home in the sea. As we enter the final section of the novel Toraf finds Paca and it is proven that she has the Gift of Poseidon meaning that at last Galen is free to mate with Emma but after she found out what he was hiding from her they aren't talking which was really sad to read. I love the fact that up until this point Emma and Galen's romance has been hinted at but it has been a slow burn which I love especially in YA. When Galen begins to make things right between him and Emma I was so overcome with joy that I literally was jumping up and down seqeuling in the middle of my living room. One thing I have to say about the ending of this novel was it was amazing and I wasn't expecting the twist. I can honestly say I can't wait to pick up the second installment Of Triton as soon as I can. Overall I absolutely loved this novel, it was a quick read I read the whole thing in two days, and the characters are just divine especially Emma and Galen. The twist in this novel was so thought out and there was so much misdirection through out the novel that when we saw the twist it was a mind blowing, heart shattering experience. I highly recommend all fantasy lovers read this series and for anyone looking to read a mermaid fantasy novel.

Très bonne envoie du livre. Article très intéressant comme ça le montre. C'est une bon moyen de s'entraîner a lire l'anglais

Of Poseidon ist eine Geschichte, die das Herz eines jeden Fans von klebrig süßen, absolut kitschigen Liebesgeschichten höher schlagen lässt. Es gibt die typischen sarkastische Unterhaltungen zu Beginn, das Herzklopfen, Streitigkeiten und verstohlene Blicke. Außerdem gibt es Meermenschen und wer kann diesen schon widerstehen?! Für Leser, die eine Geschichte mit Tiefgang und harten Themen konfrontiert werden wollen, nicht zu empfehlen. Alle, die vor süßen Momenten ihre Bettdecke über den Kopf ziehen wollen, sollten dieses Buch jedoch sofort kaufen!

Great story. It's not the typical mermaid story. I've read it 3 times since I bought it. I would recommend the saga.