Mer-Charmer, by Amy Bearce | [ARC] Book Review #270

A huge Thank-You to Curiosity Quills for giving me a copy of Mer-Charmer by Amy Bearce, in exchange for an honest review. 

Fourteen-year-old Phoebe Quinn is surrounded by magic, but she can’t muster any of her own. Her sister is a fairy keeper. Her best friends are merfolk. And all she does is dishes and housework.

When Phoebe finds out a terrible sea creature is awakening that preys upon the peace-loving merfolk, she becomes determined to help them, even though it means going with Tristan and Mina to their home deep in the sea.

Beneath the waves, Phoebe learns she’s more like her sister than she realized. The merfolk are drawn to her, and she can sense the magic of the sea all around her. Magic is finally at her fingertips, but that’s precisely why the stirring dark power under the waters decides it wants her most of all.

Now she must not only help the peaceful merfolk escape this ancient enemy, she must master her out-of-control powers. If she fails, she will die and darkness will rise and enslave the merfolk once more. But embracing her full power could cost her the very people she loves the most.

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Mer-Charmer is the second book in the World of Aluvia trilogy.

Prior to my actually reading Mer-Charmer, I expected that Mer-Charmer would be told in Sierra’s point of view. While I was disappointed that Mer-Charmer isn’t told in Sierra’s point of view, I was happy that Phoebe gets her own story in Mer-Charmer.

I was honestly so confused when I first started reading Mer-Charmer, because the way that the character thought wasn’t at all how Sierra’s thoughts flowed. So when I read the Mer-Charmer synopsis on Goodreads I was kind of surprised that Mer-Charmer was in Phoebe’s point of view. Phoebe is Sierra’s little sister. I’m glad though that Mer-Charmer takes place about 4-ish years after Fairy Keeper ends.

My overall thoughts of the book include that Phoebe is a great character, and an even better person (if she were to live and breath as we do). Phoebe proved time and time again that she’s capable of doing so many things. So. Many. Things. Especially when someone tells Phoebe that she isn’t capable of doing something. Phoebe’s resilience is very comforting.

I love the romance and angst between Phoebe and her love interest. Phoebe was so cute and adorable, yet she can be mature at the same time. — I’d think that would be difficult to convey when writing a character or a scene in that way, but Bearce has written Phoebe very well.

For the most part, there is nothing about Mer-Charmer that I didn’t like. In the end the bad guy got what he deserved, and ultimately the World of Aluvia is a better place for it!

Mer-Charmer is a very interesting addition to the World of Aluvia trilogy. I’m so glad that I read Phoebe’s story!

I believe that you could read each of the World of Aluvia books as stand-alones, but to get the full grasp of what is going on in the World of Aluvia, you’ve got to read Fairy Keeper first. If you’re interested in reading Fairy Keeper, here is my review.

I gave Mer-Charmer 4 of 5 stars on Goodreads.

Happy Reading!
Adele