Book Type: YA Novel
Author: T.M. Holladay
Pages:
Book 1) 354
Book 2) 436
Summary(Book 1: Hiding Haelo, goodreads.com):
Haelo Marley is not your typical mermaid. Real mermaids don't have fins. Summoning ocean currents at will and feeling the auras of those around her are Candeon capabilities completely wasted at high school. When the memory of an underwater battle surfaces in her dreams, Haelo realizes there is more to her story than she thought. And Dagger, the only other Candeon at school, might have the answers she needs. Haelo is about to discover that high school is poor preparation for the alarming future set out before her.
My Review:
A dreamy teenage life takes a serious turn, filled with dramatic twists and dangerous usurpers. The Candeon Heirs series was enthralling and breathtaking in its descriptions and character development. There are some parts that made the story fall a little flat, but let's start with the positives:
Beautiful Setting Detail and Characterization:
Holladay created a new race that she clearly states are different from any other oceanic creature. They are Candeon. These beings can manipulate the ocean and speak telepathically. They also has shark-like skin. For the purpose of keeping this blog concise, this review will be posted under the YA mermaid books tab. The Candeon society is based on classical Greek/Mediterranean culture, which also gave this race a unique twist on traditional mer-lore.
The setting detail was excellent and draws the reader into the unfathomable depths of the sea. Holladay makes the reader see the beauty and destruction of the ocean, and I really respect that realistic approach. One of my favorite details occurred when Haelo was underwater during a lightning storm:
Beneath me, the ocean floor was stunning. My clear, wet vision penetrated through the blackness and into the breathtaking expanse of marinescape below. The next flash of lightning directly overhead illuminated the rocky bottom with eerie, fascinating shadows.
- Holladay, page 8.
In the first book, there weren't a lot of underwater scenes, but the sequel features vast underwater exploration into the darkest depths. While I won't spoil too much about the rest of the series, Haelo is taken all over the world, from Hawaii to Greece, and each time she visited a new place I felt as if I was alongside her for the journey. In the second novel, the reader travels to Hawaii and meets and ancient race of fire people called the Makole. They can manipulate and create fire at will. So cool!
Pankyra, the Candeon capital city, reminds me of a bustling ancient Greek acropolis filled with old-world architecture and wealth. To contrast, Atlantis is described as a a shanty town with a huge poverty/crime problem. Through this city, Haelo was protected by her bodyguard Dagger, who is my favorite character.
Dagger starts off as a lone bad boy stalking Haelo until a twisted turn of events reveals his true purpose. Honestly, he's a badass: a really hot one! Although he has an exterior of concrete, he softens at Haelo's touch. Their development is filled with sincerity and truth. Their interactions reflect a sincere friendship that is loyal and protective. They respect each other's traumatic pasts without pushing for questions. The relationship build up is slow and natural, but it's also forbidden. You can feel the character's heartache, and it's beautifully written.
Lastly, I loved the theme of keeping family close along with those who vow to protect you, like Dagger! When Haelo finds out the truth about her heritage, Holladay did a fantastic job of conveying Haelo's pain. There were times I wanted to cry for her. In the second novel, an epic battle unfolds that kills some characters.
Even though this book had fantastic moments, there were scenes and character traits that were typical YA tropes with no purpose.
High School Drama, Lack of Underwater Scenes: As a young adult writer, I understand that we must portray our characters in a natural high school setting. There is going to be drama. However, I thought it was unnecessary to describe Haelo's best friend's feelings for another random character, and some of the friends within their social circle barely had a purpose besides a few lines of dialogue. At page 70 of the first book, I was honestly ready to stop. It was just too much about the ins and outs of who's dating who. Only Lauryn makes a brief appearance in the second novel with any trace of her other human friends.
One trope that always bothers me is the "which guy should I choose?" dilemma. Haelo springs from a fellow Candeon named Kingston, to a human named Sam, and then starts developing feelings for Dagger. I believe it sends a negative message to young women: that relationships are disposable. She has plenty to worry about without adding boys to the drama.
The middle parts of both novels dragged for a long time, and I kept waiting for something to happen. All of the action picks up toward the end without being dispersed throughout the plot.
UPDATE: THIRD NOVEL RELEASED
T.M. Holladay recently released the latest installment of the Candeon Heirs series titled Haelo Rising. Included in this installment is a map of the Candeon city, which comes in handy later on as the reader navigates some of the deepest parts with Haelo and her crew.
With this latest addition, I loved the amount of action sequences, and through the challenging and heart-wrenching events, Haelo matures into a strong warrior/spy/princess! She's a great role model character within the YA community. The utilization of first person POV, as with the other novels, adds a good amount of tension to the plot.
The only two negatives I have to say are:
the authors says this book is clean young adult fantasy, but I disagree. I want to warn readers that there is murder, genocide, torture, hostages, and other terror attack situations that some may find disturbing.
There were a lot of characters to keep track of, so if you read this on a tablet, make sure to use the highlight feature!
Of course, I wish I can reveal more about this book, but I don't want to give anything away!
Final Thoughts:
This is a good series with some interesting thoughts on mer-royalty, character dynamics, and fantastic setting detail. However, a lot of the plot in the first and second book dragged out with some stale action, but the third novel was very engaging!
I give this series **** (4 stars).
Sirenita The Selkie