Josie Demuth

A Thousand Salt Kisses is a sweet book that I finished reading in one sitting. The first few pages surprised me; most of the time, when I start reading a new book, I need to re-read the first pages more than once to feel the atmosphere of the new book and get used to the characters and the settings. But here, in this book, I felt welcomed. The slow beginning gave me time to know Crystal and root for her. The writing style was straightforward, as you are sitting with your friend and she is telling you a story: no big or “SAT” words, no lyrical sentences, and no complicated description, it was that simple, and I find this quite exciting and relaxing.

Crystal is a girl from London who recently moved to an Island and left everything behind her. She meets with a merman, and they fall in love. But the plot isn’t that simple, soon the drama will start, and things will get complicated.

I loved the romance between Crystal and Llyr, but the insta-love annoyed me a little. I knew that Crystal would fall in love soon because she said it right in the first few pages that she wanted someone to share the love with, but I found the whole thing rushed.

The story was exciting and heartbreaking at the end. I enjoyed reading the book, and I am looking forward to reading the following two books in the series.

Overall, I recommend this book to everyone who likes fantasy romance YA books.… (mais)

Four years after her intense summer romance on Starfish Island with merman Llyr, Crystal White has graduated university in London and is left jobless, homeless and boyfriend-less after her break-up with university boyfriend, Sam. With nowhere else to go, Crystal heads back to Starfish Island. Immediately, her feelings for Llyr resurface, even though she knows that their love is impossible. When an opportunity arises to meet with Llyr, Crystal jumps at the chance. However, when she goes to meet him Crystal not only finds that Llyr is engaged to Princess Kara of the Timsah Kingdom, but that she has found some magic of her own that might upset all of the mer-kingdoms.
After finishing the first book, A Thousand Salt Kisses, I was really left wondering what will happen with Crystal and Llyr in A Thousand Salt Kisses Later. Well, I was not let down. First, I was very happy that this is set four years after the first book; this let Crystal mature a bit and have a relationship that was not with a merman. Also, after four years away, if Crystal and Llyr still have feelings for one another, it is definitely more than a summer romance. I also liked the elements of magic that were introduced, the title is explained, though Crystal’s magic spell is quite a surprise! I also wasn’t quite sure if I liked the way that she had to reverse it. Anyway, I’m very glad that more of the mermaid kingdoms were explored; they all seemed beautiful, as well as mermaid customs and how exactly they clothed themselves, drank, ate and danced. The conflict that was introduced with the Timsah Kingdom was interesting, a little bit a dark magic that still needs to be explored more. Also, it seems that it was resolved a little too easily for now. There was not as much focus on romance in this book, which was alright with me, and there was almost a love triangle, which hopefully is resolved as well. Overall, a nice follow up for this fantasy mermance.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.… (mais)

After the first book and the way I felt about it I really had no want to read the second one. However, I had committed to reading it. So, you can imagine my surprise when I actually found myself liking this book. I found it to be way better than the first. Sometimes the sequel are better than the first.

Crystal was more grown up, so she did not come off as childish. The writing also helped to support this factor by not repeating the obvious. In addition, the story moved along quicker. There was a nice surprise as well in this story that helped to lend itself to the ending. What I enjoyed the most about this book is that I got to see and experience Llyr's world. Although, he did come off as a jerk. I felt sorry for Crystal. A good improvement from the first book.… (mais)

This book was a nice concept. I mean who does not enjoy mermaids and mermen. I actually had no issues with this book in the beginning. Llyr was cool. The way that he and Crystal met for the first time, of course, is a girl's dream come true. To be rescued by a handsome, mystery man. Who could blame Crystal as it was the perfect setting, the moonlight, and some magic in the air. The flirty times between Crystal and Llyr was cute. Not so romantic but "cute".

Although, as the story moved along it felt like the way that Crystal acted; she was more like a 12 year old girl than seventeen. This grew weary. I agree with another reader that the way the author would state the obvious was another thing that was annoying. As if the readers could not figure it out for themselves. An example was when Crystal and Llyr went boating and swimming. Crystal stated that she was wearing a bikini because she knew that Llyr would want to go swimming. Well when I go swimming I usually wear a bikini. For the older teenage audience that this book is targeted too it does not work so well but it might for the younger readers.… (mais)