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Undertow #1
Undertow
Sixteen-year-old Lyric Walker’s life is forever changed when she witnesses the arrival of 30,000 Alpha, a five-nation race of ocean-dwelling warriors, on her beach in Coney Island. The world’s initial wonder and awe over the Alpha quickly turns ugly and paranoid and violent, and Lyric’s small town transforms into a military zone with humans on one side and Alpha on the other. When Lyric is recruited to help the crown prince, a boy named Fathom, assimilate, she begins to fall for him. But their love is a dangerous one, and there are forces on both sides working to keep them apart. Only, what if the Alpha are not actually the enemy? What if they are in fact humanity’s only hope of survival? Because the real enemy is coming. And it’s more terrifying than anything the world has ever seen.
Action, suspense, and romance whirlpool dangerously in this cinematic saga, a blend of District 9 and The Outsiders.
Action, suspense, and romance whirlpool dangerously in this cinematic saga, a blend of District 9 and The Outsiders.
376 pages, Hardcover
First published May 5, 2015
382 people are currently reading
10362 people want to read
About the author
Michael Buckley
156 books1,907 followersNew York Times bestselling author Michael Buckley was born in Akron, Ohio. He tried his hand as a stand-up comic and lead singer for a punk rock back before attending Ohio University. After graduating with honors he moved to New York City to be an intern on the Late Show with David Letterman which led to stints developing programming for Discovery Networks, MTV, MTV Animation and Klasky Csupo (producers of Nickelodeon’s Rugrats). Today he lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife, Alison, and their son Finn.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the 카지노싸이트 database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the 카지노싸이트 database with this name.
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May 19, 2015
“You clueless jellyfish. My people would have you thrown into the Great Abyss to prevent you from mating and creating more dull-witted minnows. No wonder these sea cucumbers are so simple.”
This book was absurd and silly. I'm not saying that it's a ridiculous book because it prominently features nonexistent mermaids and sea folks at all. In reading, there is this thing called willing suspension of disbelief, meaning that the reader will pretend that a book's subject matter is plausible, no matter how outlandish the topic. And that's not to mention the giant gaping plot holes.
Of course, willing suspension of disbelief only apply when the topic itself is written in a way that is credible. This book's subject matter is not, the way the mythical creatures were portrayed were so outrageously silly as to seem completely imaginary. Not for a single moment did I feel immersed in the story. The book's plot doesn't hold water. Pun intended.
The plotline read like a middle-grade book. In fact, I found this Disney book taking place under the sea, with no end to the puns it contains, a few steps away from A Little Mermaid so much more plausible and enjoyable than this book.
I can't relate to the main character at all, but I will give it to Mr. Buckley that he writes a better (and less annoying) female than a number of YA female authors. Every single character is a cliché, you will find no originality in any of them, from the edgy, "different" main character to the brooding love interest, to the mean girls. Her best friend is a spunky, annoying bitch of a caricature whom I immediately hated...and speaking from one who had her own beloved spunky, fiery best friend at one point. There's a difference between wilful and fiery and fun, then there's just being a gigantic grating bitch.
“Don’t act all offended. You’re a notorious slut, Ms. Carnal Coney Island.”The best friend in this book, to me, is the latter.
The premise is an interesting one, there are sea creatures on Earth, hidden from us all these years. Out of nowhere, 30,000 of them walk right out of the sea and into our lives. Landfolks ain't happy (no shit), and now in an attempt at getting along, the high-school aged fishy folks are going to be integrated into our school, reminiscent of , in which black students were allowed to attend schools which were previously white-only.
Naturally, this creates a lot of fucking tension. Coney Island wasn't a nice place to begin with...
The Chinese hated the Japanese, and the Jamaicans hated the Koreans, and the Mexicans hated the African Americans, and the Russians hated the Orthodox Jews, and the white people hated all of them. And sometimes, on very hot days, someone got stabbed because of the flag on his car. If America is a melting pot, Coney Island is the overcooked crusty stuff on the bottom of the pan.(I can testify that the whole Chinese hates the Japanese thing is true, but I can't say whether everything else is, being a West-Coast-er). But in the middle of this clusterfuck, you have fish folks added to the mix.
Like the aforementioned integration attempt, there are numerous protests outside of the school. People are literally up in arms. Violence ensues. A bitch of a governor, Bachman...a little similar to the actual Governor Bachmann, and given that I'm no fan of the real-life governor, I have no objection to this caricature.
And the biggest, meanest, shrillest of them all, Governor Bachman, is back in a fresh blue business suit and a brand-new megaphone.There is no good reason why the fuck these people have emerged from the sea after all these years, these supremely powerful people, to live among a bunch of humans who are, frankly, disgusting, racist, and idiotic.
I didn't like their reason for going on land. I didn't like the human's reactions to the fish folks. I don't know about you, but I didn't think our reaction to the emergence of fish folks from the sea was realistic. Listen, this is fucking 'Murica. We have (and I'm not saying I agree at all) enough problem with immigrants. Mention the Mexico borders and watch the blood fly. So if we have enough problem with, um, HUMAN immigrants, why are we reaction so relatively calmly to the alien ones?
For fuck's sakes, there are only 30,000 of them. KILL THEM ALL. *ahem*
The inclusion of news articles from the New York Post, Mother Jones, and the Daily Beast just made me laugh because it was so silly.
Then there's the gigantic plot hole.
These creatures are highly claustrophobic.
“It is the ceiling that troubles me,” he says. “I am not used to having something over my head.”Yet they allow themselves to be imprisoned in a tent city, packed together like sardines in a can. Pun intended.
Now it’s the home of a massive tent city inhabited by thirty thousand immigrants who call themselves the Alpha, or the First Men. They have a similar fence, guarded by two hundred National Guard members.The sea people in this book are unoriginal. There are the warrior-like Nix, and the *yawn* Sirena. So very generic.
She was a vision of hotness, but most Sirena are. They’re the closest to what people think of when you think mermaid—long flowing hair, beautiful face, flawless body—but when they’re on land they lose their tails and at first glance are as human as everyone else.Their speech is laughable. The Nix can't be counted on to say anything without yelling and grunting in a Thor-like manner, and it's so very sad that these imaginary creatures fit the image of every single image the humans have had of mythical sea monsters and creatures since the beginning of time. Really. So dull.
I've read reviews that raved about how fast-paced and action-packed this book is. I'm glad others have enjoyed it, but the book just dragged on endlessly for me.
September 8, 2017
Reviewed by:
There's an episode of that's a lot like this book.
John Crichton travels through a wormhole back to earth, and Dargo, Rigel, and Aeryn follow him out of concern, only to be held hostage by the government b/c ALIENS: we must study them, and by "study" I mean "dissect."
It turns out to be an advanced race of aliens running a simulation in John's brain to determine whether or not Earth would be a viable planet for them to integrate themselves into (their own planet having been destroyed).
The answer was a resounding no.
Why?
B/c it is a natural state of the human condition to fear that which we do not understand.
Space is infinite, and thus represents infinite possibilities of things that are other.
That's scary.
How much more so if "it" comes from our own world? How much more so if it walks onto our shores from our very own ocean? How much more so if we discover that "they" have been living among us the whole time?
Michael Buckley attacks this scenario with both hands in UNDERTOW.
Three years ago, 30,000 of the Alpha walked out of the Lower New York Bay and onto Coney Island. Since that time, the area has been subject to Martial Law, the communities segregated. BUT. After myriad meetings and negotiations, attempts at integration are to begin with the addition of Alpha teenagers into one of the local high schools. If successful, more Alpha teenagers will be added to the student populations of other high schools, and thus will begin the first step toward peaceful coexistence.
*snickers* Riiiiighttt. B/c that's gonna happen.
So we've got a great plot with a great underlying message, and both of those things are a big part of what makes this not-your-ordinary YA book, but what really pushes it over that edge for me is the SNARK. This book has snark for DAYS, it's fantastic and hilarious:
And that came immediately following this description:
*snickers*
My only issues were a handful of underdeveloped secondary characters and a few unnecessary flourishes when trying to make various points. BUT. This is YA. And as far as YA written for actual teenagers goes, this was fantastic. Buckley does a fabulous job of highlighting the obstinance of high school students without crossing over into that land I try to avoid at all costs: ANGST.
Instead, it's just funny. Or maybe I just applaud resolve (when the resolve is for something reasonable). Either way, I lol'd more while reading this book than I have in a long, long time.
UNDERTOW is one of those rare YA novels that covers the whole spectrum of what it means to be YA. I myself (well past 25 years old) was greatly entertained, and I have zero inhibitions about also getting it for my 14-year-old sister. If you or someone you know loves modern sci-fi sea creature awesomeness, then UNDERTOW is an obvious choice. Between the clever and snarky characters, the strong bonds of family and friendship, and the unignorable message that prejudice and mindless hatred are unacceptable . . . what's not to like? Highly recommended.
There's an episode of that's a lot like this book.
John Crichton travels through a wormhole back to earth, and Dargo, Rigel, and Aeryn follow him out of concern, only to be held hostage by the government b/c ALIENS: we must study them, and by "study" I mean "dissect."
It turns out to be an advanced race of aliens running a simulation in John's brain to determine whether or not Earth would be a viable planet for them to integrate themselves into (their own planet having been destroyed).
The answer was a resounding no.
Why?
B/c it is a natural state of the human condition to fear that which we do not understand.
Space is infinite, and thus represents infinite possibilities of things that are other.
That's scary.
How much more so if "it" comes from our own world? How much more so if it walks onto our shores from our very own ocean? How much more so if we discover that "they" have been living among us the whole time?
Michael Buckley attacks this scenario with both hands in UNDERTOW.
Three years ago, 30,000 of the Alpha walked out of the Lower New York Bay and onto Coney Island. Since that time, the area has been subject to Martial Law, the communities segregated. BUT. After myriad meetings and negotiations, attempts at integration are to begin with the addition of Alpha teenagers into one of the local high schools. If successful, more Alpha teenagers will be added to the student populations of other high schools, and thus will begin the first step toward peaceful coexistence.
*snickers* Riiiiighttt. B/c that's gonna happen.
So we've got a great plot with a great underlying message, and both of those things are a big part of what makes this not-your-ordinary YA book, but what really pushes it over that edge for me is the SNARK. This book has snark for DAYS, it's fantastic and hilarious:
“You take these girls to the school, Leonard?” she asks my father in her thick, growly accent. She’s been in our building for fifty years, ever since emigrating from Eastern Europe—maybe Hungary, maybe Russia—I can’t remember. It’s someplace where the neighbors used to spy on one another for the government.
And that came immediately following this description:
As soon as the elevator doors open, I wish we had taken the stairs. Mrs. Novakova, short and squat, is lurking inside, like a creepy garden gnome peering out of the brush.
*snickers*
My only issues were a handful of underdeveloped secondary characters and a few unnecessary flourishes when trying to make various points. BUT. This is YA. And as far as YA written for actual teenagers goes, this was fantastic. Buckley does a fabulous job of highlighting the obstinance of high school students without crossing over into that land I try to avoid at all costs: ANGST.
“When we leave town she’s coming with us,” I whisper.
My father frowns. “Lyric, no.”
“I won’t go without her,” I say.
“We’ll discuss this later,” he says.
“That’s fine, as long as you know I won’t go without her.”
Instead, it's just funny. Or maybe I just applaud resolve (when the resolve is for something reasonable). Either way, I lol'd more while reading this book than I have in a long, long time.
UNDERTOW is one of those rare YA novels that covers the whole spectrum of what it means to be YA. I myself (well past 25 years old) was greatly entertained, and I have zero inhibitions about also getting it for my 14-year-old sister. If you or someone you know loves modern sci-fi sea creature awesomeness, then UNDERTOW is an obvious choice. Between the clever and snarky characters, the strong bonds of family and friendship, and the unignorable message that prejudice and mindless hatred are unacceptable . . . what's not to like? Highly recommended.
June 7, 2015
So the Alpha have came to town. Or Coney Island rather. At first everyone thought it was a cute oddity, then they realized that these "fish people" would want to go to school with their kids!
People talk about Coney Island's pre-Alpha days like they were magical, like we all lived in the Disneyland of Brooklyn. They forget our "Disneyland" was actually a garishly painted slum in a crumbling neighborhood with rampant crime, a busy sex trade, a methadone clinic, and a school system in the toilet. Sure, the Alpha didn't help. They turned the place into a police state. But it's not like we were all out in the streets singing "Kumbaya" the day before.
Sixteen year old Lyric is the main character for the story, she has that could be bad girl vibe, the standard stick by her BFF, her parents are hiding secrets. Yep, throw in all the normal young adult stereotypes. That's our Lyric. For some reason, I didn't hate her though.
She and her parents live with the secret that her mom Summer is Alpha, part of the siren clan, which means she can turn into a mermaid type creature. (This is not a spoiler-it's released early in the book)..So this means Lyric is half-Alpha and they must keep their secret identities hidden from the humans and Alpha's.
*insert snooze here*
The Alpha's start at the high school that Lyric and her bestie go to. There is bullying, male posturing...
and then.........
And then there was the boy. He was about my age, with hair cut short and eyes blue and bright, eyes that burned a glowing echo I could see even when I closed my own. He looked lost and confused, troubled by what he was seeing around him, like he was seeing the world for the first time.
We enter into insta love territory. Fathom is the prince of the Alpha's. He has to fight his daddies battles daily, go to a new school, get teamed with human Lyric to learn about how to fit in better...Fathom has so much angst.
Awww Poor Fathom.
Then sweep to the ending. Epic battle. (I was bored by then)
Now I will admit. I didn't hate this book at all. The idea of it is so interesting. The writing is very good, I think if the author hadn't drug out every trope known to young adult land that I probably would have five starred this sucker.
Plus you have Queen Minerva.
People talk about Coney Island's pre-Alpha days like they were magical, like we all lived in the Disneyland of Brooklyn. They forget our "Disneyland" was actually a garishly painted slum in a crumbling neighborhood with rampant crime, a busy sex trade, a methadone clinic, and a school system in the toilet. Sure, the Alpha didn't help. They turned the place into a police state. But it's not like we were all out in the streets singing "Kumbaya" the day before.
Sixteen year old Lyric is the main character for the story, she has that could be bad girl vibe, the standard stick by her BFF, her parents are hiding secrets. Yep, throw in all the normal young adult stereotypes. That's our Lyric. For some reason, I didn't hate her though.
She and her parents live with the secret that her mom Summer is Alpha, part of the siren clan, which means she can turn into a mermaid type creature. (This is not a spoiler-it's released early in the book)..So this means Lyric is half-Alpha and they must keep their secret identities hidden from the humans and Alpha's.
*insert snooze here*
The Alpha's start at the high school that Lyric and her bestie go to. There is bullying, male posturing...
and then.........
And then there was the boy. He was about my age, with hair cut short and eyes blue and bright, eyes that burned a glowing echo I could see even when I closed my own. He looked lost and confused, troubled by what he was seeing around him, like he was seeing the world for the first time.
We enter into insta love territory. Fathom is the prince of the Alpha's. He has to fight his daddies battles daily, go to a new school, get teamed with human Lyric to learn about how to fit in better...Fathom has so much angst.
Awww Poor Fathom.
Then sweep to the ending. Epic battle. (I was bored by then)
Now I will admit. I didn't hate this book at all. The idea of it is so interesting. The writing is very good, I think if the author hadn't drug out every trope known to young adult land that I probably would have five starred this sucker.
Plus you have Queen Minerva.
May 14, 2015
Find all of my reviews at:
Looks like the cheese sure stands alone on this one . . .
Let me ‘splain myself. There are certain things that grab my attention/make me want to read something ASAP. Those things are of both the bright and shiny variety which is a beautiful cover (check) and saying things like the story contained within the purrrty cover will be “a blend of District 9 and The Outsiders” (check). When said story doesn’t deliver I have much disappoint.
Now, that’s not saying everything about this one was bad (hence the 2 Stars rather than 1 . . . ‘cause you all know I don’t hesitate to give a 1). The premise was a good one . . .
Coney Island is no longer the way we all picture it. Three years ago things changed and the area became a war zone of sorts. Refugees known as “Alpha” flooded the beach by the thousands and a militarized tent city was set up in order to contain them. The young members of these families will now be integrated into the existing school system in hopes that race relations will improve.
Good thing #1 – Today’s history classes suck and racism still runs rampant. Books that encourage kids to look at fictional storylines that mimic real-life/teach valuable lessons are super cool by me.
Good thing #2 – The writing was pretty solid . . .
“You can hear them coming from blocks away, a low thrum like the plucking of a bass string. As they grow closer it becomes a buzz in your inner ear, like hornets building a nest in your brain. By the time they reach your street, when they are right outside your window, the sound is unbearable: a rogue wave of moans and shrieks that rises higher and higher into a great crescendo of terror, the stuff of nightmares.”
Good thing #3 – The “bad guys.” I had no clue what was going to come out of the water, so imagine my delight when the people looked like this . . .
and this . . .
It was all going swimmingly. (See what I did there? Hilarious!) That is, until this happened . . .
You know what that means, right? INSTALOVE and an immediate cease and desist of any and all action/story progression/etc. Why take a plot that is filled with so much potential and just stink it up with a love story????? If I read any more of that crap, well . . .
I’m ready for “Very Realistic YA” to become more than just a hashtag . . .
Oh, and of course this is going to be a series. Nope. Not gonna do it. All the filler in Book #1 was proof that this could have easily been wrapped up in one stand-alone novel. The only thing that could convince me otherwise???? If this guy joins the story . . .
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
Looks like the cheese sure stands alone on this one . . .
Let me ‘splain myself. There are certain things that grab my attention/make me want to read something ASAP. Those things are of both the bright and shiny variety which is a beautiful cover (check) and saying things like the story contained within the purrrty cover will be “a blend of District 9 and The Outsiders” (check). When said story doesn’t deliver I have much disappoint.
Now, that’s not saying everything about this one was bad (hence the 2 Stars rather than 1 . . . ‘cause you all know I don’t hesitate to give a 1). The premise was a good one . . .
Coney Island is no longer the way we all picture it. Three years ago things changed and the area became a war zone of sorts. Refugees known as “Alpha” flooded the beach by the thousands and a militarized tent city was set up in order to contain them. The young members of these families will now be integrated into the existing school system in hopes that race relations will improve.
Good thing #1 – Today’s history classes suck and racism still runs rampant. Books that encourage kids to look at fictional storylines that mimic real-life/teach valuable lessons are super cool by me.
Good thing #2 – The writing was pretty solid . . .
“You can hear them coming from blocks away, a low thrum like the plucking of a bass string. As they grow closer it becomes a buzz in your inner ear, like hornets building a nest in your brain. By the time they reach your street, when they are right outside your window, the sound is unbearable: a rogue wave of moans and shrieks that rises higher and higher into a great crescendo of terror, the stuff of nightmares.”
Good thing #3 – The “bad guys.” I had no clue what was going to come out of the water, so imagine my delight when the people looked like this . . .
and this . . .
It was all going swimmingly. (See what I did there? Hilarious!) That is, until this happened . . .
You know what that means, right? INSTALOVE and an immediate cease and desist of any and all action/story progression/etc. Why take a plot that is filled with so much potential and just stink it up with a love story????? If I read any more of that crap, well . . .
I’m ready for “Very Realistic YA” to become more than just a hashtag . . .
Oh, and of course this is going to be a series. Nope. Not gonna do it. All the filler in Book #1 was proof that this could have easily been wrapped up in one stand-alone novel. The only thing that could convince me otherwise???? If this guy joins the story . . .
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!
May 4, 2015
This review can also be found at
4 Stars!
I am a little shocked by how much I ended up enjoying this book. I thought it was entertaining and unique. I am completely impressed by the originality of the overall story. I will admit that I made the decision to read this book based purely on the cover of the book. I understand that this is not a good way to choose a book and I have been mislead by many interesting book covers. Once I started reading the book, I realized that this was a completely different story that I had expected and I was hooked.
This book focuses on Lyric, her parents, her friends, Bex and Shadow, and Fathom and others that are like him. Fathom is a member of the Alpha, which are a race of intelligent beings who come not from a distant planet but from the depths of the ocean here on our planet. They have been living on the beach area of Coney Island for the past three years. Lyric and her family live in this area which is now considered the zone. The book opens with the first day that the members of the Alpha will start attending school alongside humans.
Lyric was a great character. She is very loyal to both her friends and her parents. She can keep a secret but is fiercely protective when she needs to be. She obviously loves her parents but she still has that feisty teenage attitude at times. Bex and Shadow were fun characters. They were very supportive to each other. Bex is able to deal with problems with an amazing amount of strength.
I found Fathom to be fascinating. Just the idea of an entire race of intelligent beings sharing our planet all of these years without our knowledge is mind boggling. It turns out the the Alpha are quite varied with customs that are very different that the humans are used to seeing. The more that I learned about the Alpha, the more I wanted to know. Each of these characters were just so unique and interesting.
I really liked the writing and I thought that the pacing of the story was very good. The books seemed to move very quickly towards the end because there was just so much happening. I loved the descriptions that made this world come alive. I also thought that the hate depicted in the story from the humans seemed very realistic. I must also make a note that I am very impressed that this YA novel stayed away from the dreaded love triangle.
I would recommend this book to others. This is the first book by Michael Buckley that I have had a chance to read. I definitely plan to continue with this series because I can't wait to find out what happens to Lyric and everyone next.
I received a copy of this book from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
4 Stars!
I am a little shocked by how much I ended up enjoying this book. I thought it was entertaining and unique. I am completely impressed by the originality of the overall story. I will admit that I made the decision to read this book based purely on the cover of the book. I understand that this is not a good way to choose a book and I have been mislead by many interesting book covers. Once I started reading the book, I realized that this was a completely different story that I had expected and I was hooked.
This book focuses on Lyric, her parents, her friends, Bex and Shadow, and Fathom and others that are like him. Fathom is a member of the Alpha, which are a race of intelligent beings who come not from a distant planet but from the depths of the ocean here on our planet. They have been living on the beach area of Coney Island for the past three years. Lyric and her family live in this area which is now considered the zone. The book opens with the first day that the members of the Alpha will start attending school alongside humans.
Lyric was a great character. She is very loyal to both her friends and her parents. She can keep a secret but is fiercely protective when she needs to be. She obviously loves her parents but she still has that feisty teenage attitude at times. Bex and Shadow were fun characters. They were very supportive to each other. Bex is able to deal with problems with an amazing amount of strength.
I found Fathom to be fascinating. Just the idea of an entire race of intelligent beings sharing our planet all of these years without our knowledge is mind boggling. It turns out the the Alpha are quite varied with customs that are very different that the humans are used to seeing. The more that I learned about the Alpha, the more I wanted to know. Each of these characters were just so unique and interesting.
I really liked the writing and I thought that the pacing of the story was very good. The books seemed to move very quickly towards the end because there was just so much happening. I loved the descriptions that made this world come alive. I also thought that the hate depicted in the story from the humans seemed very realistic. I must also make a note that I am very impressed that this YA novel stayed away from the dreaded love triangle.
I would recommend this book to others. This is the first book by Michael Buckley that I have had a chance to read. I definitely plan to continue with this series because I can't wait to find out what happens to Lyric and everyone next.
I received a copy of this book from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Books for Young Readers via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.
dnf
July 7, 2015DNF at 28%
Despite its very intriguing blurb that really appealed to me the first time I read it.... Undertow failed to keep me interested. Sea creatures or books about sea creatures is very hard to come by, at least for me. That's why I literally squealed when I read the synopsis of Undertow.
The last book I read about characters who are in a sea environment was Atlantia by Allie Condie and it was all kinds of epic fail, I'm still trying to erase it on my mind. And now this!! Should I just stick to The Little Mermaid??
The writing is alright. But the main character's perspective was so boring and I found myself snoozing a lot of times. I actually don't get her too, but my theory is that its all part of the plot. Even though that is the reason, its still not enough to keep me reading. Maybe when the second book comes out or when I'm in the mood for slow and and uninteresting main character, I'll pick it up again.
Despite its very intriguing blurb that really appealed to me the first time I read it.... Undertow failed to keep me interested. Sea creatures or books about sea creatures is very hard to come by, at least for me. That's why I literally squealed when I read the synopsis of Undertow.
The last book I read about characters who are in a sea environment was Atlantia by Allie Condie and it was all kinds of epic fail, I'm still trying to erase it on my mind. And now this!! Should I just stick to The Little Mermaid??
The writing is alright. But the main character's perspective was so boring and I found myself snoozing a lot of times. I actually don't get her too, but my theory is that its all part of the plot. Even though that is the reason, its still not enough to keep me reading. Maybe when the second book comes out or when I'm in the mood for slow and and uninteresting main character, I'll pick it up again.
April 21, 2015
This book started with a very strong start, but unfortunately my interest fell quickly due to some cheesiness involving the love interest and a lack of action. The plot is very original and even reminded me a little of District 9, which I love. However it just wasn't able to live up to its potential.
Lyric was a decent character, although I had a big issue with her going after a “taken” man. Other than her slightly unseemly actions I did like her, and found her to be a realistic character. The tension between the humans and the Alpha was also well done. Overall this book had a very interesting concept but wasn't my cup of tea.
Buy, Borrow or Bin Verdict: Borrow
Note: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2014
Great read! I adored the heroine and her relationships with family/friends. A unique sci-fi YA complete with alien life forms and set against an abandoned and crumbling Coney Island. Action packed and emotional with an insightful nod toward social cause and effect.
August 28, 2015
I fell in love with this book. I have never read anything remotely like this.. yet.. anyway.
The whole concept of these different species of aquatic people called the Alpha is so cool to me. I'm already looking forward to the next book!
I love most of the characters, the bad guys are really bad and just suck though!
So the Alpha's want their kids to start going to school with the human kids and this causes all sorts of chaos as you can imagine. I mean there are cops, military out every day watching over the school and all of the kids. They are in the schools and in most classrooms. It's a cluster going to school with all of this going on.
You have Lyric and her best friend Bex who go to the school. Lyric's dad is a police officer so he's pretty much watching out for her and Bex as much as possible.
Lyric finds out she has to befriend, so to speak, the Alpha Prince they named Fathom as you can't really say their real names unless your underwater. Anyhoo, this freaks Lyric out and she starts getting threats from people for being a fish lover. Jerks! Lyric and Fathom have to meet in private every day for lessons to teach Fathom about the human culture. So many things go right and wrong with situation.
Some really sad and disturbing things happen with certain friends of Lyric and Bex. There are riots and a whole lot of wackadoo going on. We also find out that Lyric and her mother are not what they seem, you pretty much find that out at the beginning of the book.
I love how this first book ended at a good place. Well, relatively good at any rate. I'm excited for the next book, I think I said that already :)
Fin
May 5, 2015
4.5 stars- Wow, I really loved this world. It had be visualizing The Pirates of the Caribbean at times which was another bonus for this read. Small bit of teen angst didn't really interfere with the story. Yes, it had that one special snowflake person that seems to run a muck in the present YA reads but this snowflake had many humble moments to balance all the "Bling"
A future romantic interlude ? There was a taste and then it was thrown out to sea. A love triangle with many different angles but handled with intelligence.
The first half read like a horror novel. Wicked things have come to town. Evil, strange and dangerous, or is it the racist idiotic locals that are dangerous ? There is a lot of hate and anger. Hate of differences, fear of the unknown an unwillingness to accept change. Secrets, spies, conspiracies and control.
The second half of the book pulls some of the teen romantic angst out of the tried and true and swings it around. It had to happen and it was done well with believable pacing. Then the love moments turn into fear. Fear is the center of this world on all sides, Fear makes ugly things happen, heartbreaking, angering, and disgusting. It grows, death comes and everything changes, everything.
Strong characters shine bright, wicked ones darken the world, and some characters that just cowered in the shadows never really drawing attention to them selves but balancing out a well rounded world.
The world was so well written I could smell the salt in the air. Hear the roar of the waves, the crowds. I saw the broken boardwalk, the town, I was there. Bravo Mr. Buckley, you are now stuck with me as your fan. :D
I had bookmarked so much of the book it was ridiculous. There were so many lines that had me snorting with guffaws and singing with Awws. I couldn't share those with you, I didn't want to take a moment of discovery away from you as you get your first exposure to this world of salt and sand.
I can not wait for book 2 !
A future romantic interlude ? There was a taste and then it was thrown out to sea. A love triangle with many different angles but handled with intelligence.
The first half read like a horror novel. Wicked things have come to town. Evil, strange and dangerous, or is it the racist idiotic locals that are dangerous ? There is a lot of hate and anger. Hate of differences, fear of the unknown an unwillingness to accept change. Secrets, spies, conspiracies and control.
The second half of the book pulls some of the teen romantic angst out of the tried and true and swings it around. It had to happen and it was done well with believable pacing. Then the love moments turn into fear. Fear is the center of this world on all sides, Fear makes ugly things happen, heartbreaking, angering, and disgusting. It grows, death comes and everything changes, everything.
Strong characters shine bright, wicked ones darken the world, and some characters that just cowered in the shadows never really drawing attention to them selves but balancing out a well rounded world.
The world was so well written I could smell the salt in the air. Hear the roar of the waves, the crowds. I saw the broken boardwalk, the town, I was there. Bravo Mr. Buckley, you are now stuck with me as your fan. :D
I had bookmarked so much of the book it was ridiculous. There were so many lines that had me snorting with guffaws and singing with Awws. I couldn't share those with you, I didn't want to take a moment of discovery away from you as you get your first exposure to this world of salt and sand.
I can not wait for book 2 !
April 26, 2015
I didn't expect to love this as much as I did. Undertow was a fun read about a new kind of alien invader - The Alpha or First Men - or what we would have called mermaids. But these aren't the beautiful women with fish tails. They are strong and fierce warriors. And they are on the shores of Coney Island. Thirty thousand of them.
In an attempt to integrate the Alpha with the human population, the Alphas are invited to attend the local high school, much to the chagrin of the humans. In scenes reminiscent of desegregation, the Alpha are brought to school under guard of the police and National Guard. Things don't go well and the governor of New York rallies the humans against the "Fishes".
Throughout all of this nonsense, 17 year old Lyric Walker prevails. She is assigned to the Alpha Prince Fathom and she teaches him to read. Fathom is quite a scary character and I loved how he just didn't understand some of the books Lyric brought to him. Just his comments about One Fish, Two Fish made me laugh.
Undertow is not your usual mermaid story. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
In an attempt to integrate the Alpha with the human population, the Alphas are invited to attend the local high school, much to the chagrin of the humans. In scenes reminiscent of desegregation, the Alpha are brought to school under guard of the police and National Guard. Things don't go well and the governor of New York rallies the humans against the "Fishes".
Throughout all of this nonsense, 17 year old Lyric Walker prevails. She is assigned to the Alpha Prince Fathom and she teaches him to read. Fathom is quite a scary character and I loved how he just didn't understand some of the books Lyric brought to him. Just his comments about One Fish, Two Fish made me laugh.
Undertow is not your usual mermaid story. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
April 16, 2015
Undertow by Michael Buckley
Published 2015, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group
Stars: ★★★★☆
Review also posted at:
Kind thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this for review purposes. It was much appreciated!
I sink down farther, completely submerging myself. It's down here where I feel the most safe, where the headaches retreat, where the roar of the water drowns out the thrum.
Lyric Walker is different. She hasn't always known, but she knows now. Her family lives in the Coney Island "Zone"... a place cut off from the rest of the country because of a big event... yeah, not a war... not a bomb... not a chemical spill... but an INVASION.
I open the first book in the stack on my lap. It's called Caps for Sale. This was one of my favorites when I was small. (me too!!!)
You see, there are other races on our planet. And they came from the sea, covered in scales, in slime, in ooze, in shells, in claws. Now the ones that are here are sharing the Zone with the humans who lived there already.
Suddenly, I am unleashed. I am energy... I let loose everything I've been holding back for three long years.
But not all of the humans are willing to share. Lyric, her family, and her friends are caught in the middle. And a tidal wave of crazy is about to hit the shores and change Lyric's life, and the lives of everyone she cares about, forever.
No more hiding. No more keeping my head down. I am Lyric Walker... I am a wild thing.
YA books are usually hit or miss for me, but this one hit the mark... dead center! It's got a really cool concept -- merpeople of all shapes and sizes, rising out of the sea and having to deal with the humans. It's got a potty-mouthed, flawed, strong yet vulnerable main character, a great bestie, a fun "guy friend" trope, and a lot of action. Seriously, it's a fast read - a speed boat read in a genre full of paddle boats and canoes.
My favorite part: The Snark. I love when authors and their characters have a bad case of The Snark. I am just a fan in general of snarkiness. Sure, it can be annoying at times -- when it's directed at you -- but I love it anyways!
Some examples of the snarky writing style:
He's also got on running shorts that have never been used for their intended purpose. If anything, they should be called "sitting around leering at teenage girl" shorts, or "practicing being a sociopath" shorts.
The old woman's face puckers, and she sticks out her tongue to lick her lips. I swear it was green. I bet it's forked. I bet she can smell with it.
It's called a selfie. It's what people who are in love with themselves do to keep themselves busy. You can't really be an American teenager if you aren't willing to take one of these a couple dozen times a day.
I can't help it. A stream of curse words sprays all over him. I unload every frustration and bad thought I have ever had about him, multiply them by a thousand, and top them with colorful metaphors and emasculating insults. To put a period on it, I pull back and smack him right in the face.
Overall, I highly enjoyed this book. My only gripe is the stereotypical teenage love story, which is done better than many -- I mean, there are obstacles that actually make sense in this one. It just felt a little bit too much like almost-insta-love, and the character of Fathom just isn't fleshed out enough to make him as lovable as Lyric, Bex, or Shadow. Four out of five stars.
Published 2015, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group
Stars: ★★★★☆
Review also posted at:
Kind thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy of this for review purposes. It was much appreciated!
I sink down farther, completely submerging myself. It's down here where I feel the most safe, where the headaches retreat, where the roar of the water drowns out the thrum.
Lyric Walker is different. She hasn't always known, but she knows now. Her family lives in the Coney Island "Zone"... a place cut off from the rest of the country because of a big event... yeah, not a war... not a bomb... not a chemical spill... but an INVASION.
I open the first book in the stack on my lap. It's called Caps for Sale. This was one of my favorites when I was small. (me too!!!)
You see, there are other races on our planet. And they came from the sea, covered in scales, in slime, in ooze, in shells, in claws. Now the ones that are here are sharing the Zone with the humans who lived there already.
Suddenly, I am unleashed. I am energy... I let loose everything I've been holding back for three long years.
But not all of the humans are willing to share. Lyric, her family, and her friends are caught in the middle. And a tidal wave of crazy is about to hit the shores and change Lyric's life, and the lives of everyone she cares about, forever.
No more hiding. No more keeping my head down. I am Lyric Walker... I am a wild thing.
YA books are usually hit or miss for me, but this one hit the mark... dead center! It's got a really cool concept -- merpeople of all shapes and sizes, rising out of the sea and having to deal with the humans. It's got a potty-mouthed, flawed, strong yet vulnerable main character, a great bestie, a fun "guy friend" trope, and a lot of action. Seriously, it's a fast read - a speed boat read in a genre full of paddle boats and canoes.
My favorite part: The Snark. I love when authors and their characters have a bad case of The Snark. I am just a fan in general of snarkiness. Sure, it can be annoying at times -- when it's directed at you -- but I love it anyways!
Some examples of the snarky writing style:
He's also got on running shorts that have never been used for their intended purpose. If anything, they should be called "sitting around leering at teenage girl" shorts, or "practicing being a sociopath" shorts.
The old woman's face puckers, and she sticks out her tongue to lick her lips. I swear it was green. I bet it's forked. I bet she can smell with it.
It's called a selfie. It's what people who are in love with themselves do to keep themselves busy. You can't really be an American teenager if you aren't willing to take one of these a couple dozen times a day.
I can't help it. A stream of curse words sprays all over him. I unload every frustration and bad thought I have ever had about him, multiply them by a thousand, and top them with colorful metaphors and emasculating insults. To put a period on it, I pull back and smack him right in the face.
Overall, I highly enjoyed this book. My only gripe is the stereotypical teenage love story, which is done better than many -- I mean, there are obstacles that actually make sense in this one. It just felt a little bit too much like almost-insta-love, and the character of Fathom just isn't fleshed out enough to make him as lovable as Lyric, Bex, or Shadow. Four out of five stars.
July 10, 2017
‘All of them were in a state of metamorphosis. Tails became legs. Fins sank into flesh. Gills vanished, causing their owners to choke on their first breaths of air. There were elderly creatures, babies, teenagers, and families, all climbing onto the beach, eyeing us with wide-eyed wonder. At first they numbered in the hundreds, then thousands, until eventually I could no longer see the sand for all the bodies.’
Three years ago, a mysterious species of ocean-dwellers emerged from the depths of the sea to take their place on land. Since those three years, the creatures that call themselves the Alpha have set up camp on the beaches of Coney Island leaving the humans in the dark as to their intentions. In an attempt to integrate the Alphas into society and to hopefully suppress the ongoing intolerance they face, the government has negotiated that some of their children attend public schools. Lyric Walker has a secret which has caused her to keep a low profile in an attempt to avoid close scrutiny. The disclosure of this secret could mean her death yet when she’s assigned to personally work with the prince of the Alphas she becomes fearful that her secret won’t be secret for very long.
Undertow is strongly reminiscent of one of my favorite movies, District 9, where a race of aliens arrive on Earth in an attempt to find refuge. It’s nothing like you would expect since it focuses less on the invasion itself and more on the prejudices and hatred that these different species face. The injustices that they suffer. Undertow takes a similar route with these creatures that are immediately forced to undergo an intolerance that no species should ever have to endure. It was also reminiscent of the racial desegregation during the American Civil Rights Movement when black students became allowed to attend “white schools”, just with another species of course. Regardless of who the “foreigner” is though it showcased just how rampant xenophobia can become in our narrow-minded society.
‘Its skin is swamp brown and highlighted in eggplant purple; its mouth is a huge gaping hole. Teeth lean in all directions like tombstones in an abandoned cemetery. Its empty eyes are calm and black, offering little evidence of life or intelligence, and a long, wormlike appendage dangles from the top of its head to its bottom lip, ending in a bright, glowing bulb. It grunts and clicks and barks at us.’
The most interesting aspect of this tale was the descriptions and detailing of the sea creatures which only added to their alluring mystery. There are various different clans among the Alphas which are basically different forms of the same species and they’re all interesting (and sometimes terrifying) in their own way. The Alphas were fierce and ferocious creatures and the mystery surrounding their appearance on land remains a mystery for the greater part of the novel. That mystery possessed an interesting twist that I thoroughly enjoyed and can’t wait to see how it pans out in the next installment.
Undertow is more than some science fiction invasion story. It’s a story about family and honor, of respect and deference. And about overcoming prejudices and not standing for intolerance. Undertow was a most appealing tale and a tenacious start to this trilogy.
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Three years ago, a mysterious species of ocean-dwellers emerged from the depths of the sea to take their place on land. Since those three years, the creatures that call themselves the Alpha have set up camp on the beaches of Coney Island leaving the humans in the dark as to their intentions. In an attempt to integrate the Alphas into society and to hopefully suppress the ongoing intolerance they face, the government has negotiated that some of their children attend public schools. Lyric Walker has a secret which has caused her to keep a low profile in an attempt to avoid close scrutiny. The disclosure of this secret could mean her death yet when she’s assigned to personally work with the prince of the Alphas she becomes fearful that her secret won’t be secret for very long.
Undertow is strongly reminiscent of one of my favorite movies, District 9, where a race of aliens arrive on Earth in an attempt to find refuge. It’s nothing like you would expect since it focuses less on the invasion itself and more on the prejudices and hatred that these different species face. The injustices that they suffer. Undertow takes a similar route with these creatures that are immediately forced to undergo an intolerance that no species should ever have to endure. It was also reminiscent of the racial desegregation during the American Civil Rights Movement when black students became allowed to attend “white schools”, just with another species of course. Regardless of who the “foreigner” is though it showcased just how rampant xenophobia can become in our narrow-minded society.
‘Its skin is swamp brown and highlighted in eggplant purple; its mouth is a huge gaping hole. Teeth lean in all directions like tombstones in an abandoned cemetery. Its empty eyes are calm and black, offering little evidence of life or intelligence, and a long, wormlike appendage dangles from the top of its head to its bottom lip, ending in a bright, glowing bulb. It grunts and clicks and barks at us.’
The most interesting aspect of this tale was the descriptions and detailing of the sea creatures which only added to their alluring mystery. There are various different clans among the Alphas which are basically different forms of the same species and they’re all interesting (and sometimes terrifying) in their own way. The Alphas were fierce and ferocious creatures and the mystery surrounding their appearance on land remains a mystery for the greater part of the novel. That mystery possessed an interesting twist that I thoroughly enjoyed and can’t wait to see how it pans out in the next installment.
Undertow is more than some science fiction invasion story. It’s a story about family and honor, of respect and deference. And about overcoming prejudices and not standing for intolerance. Undertow was a most appealing tale and a tenacious start to this trilogy.
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
July 14, 2016
Honestly, I picked this book off the shelves because I loved the cover. I know, I know, "don't judge a book by its cover" but you know what, I totally do and I'm pretty sure 99% of us do. It's there for a reason and it's meant to draw us in and in this case, it definitely worked. But all that aside, I loved it.
I had no idea what to expect from this book, I hadn't even heard about it until I grabbed it off the shelf and I'm kind of glad I didn't know anything about it.
You hear a book involved merpeople and most people would be put off by that premise and I admit I might have been one of them, but I gave it a chance and I'm so glad I did.
I like the way Buckley writes and I definitely enjoyed the world and the characters that he created. I will definitely be reading the next book in this trilogy. (:
I had no idea what to expect from this book, I hadn't even heard about it until I grabbed it off the shelf and I'm kind of glad I didn't know anything about it.
You hear a book involved merpeople and most people would be put off by that premise and I admit I might have been one of them, but I gave it a chance and I'm so glad I did.
I like the way Buckley writes and I definitely enjoyed the world and the characters that he created. I will definitely be reading the next book in this trilogy. (:
April 2, 2018
This is another one of my finds from the used book sale that I went to. I absolutely loved the cover and read a few sentences of the blurb before I was sold on this one. That cover is absolutely gorgeous! I am glad that I found this book, Undertow was unlike anything thay I had ever read before, and in the genre of YA fantasy, that is quite the challenge. Michael Buckley has a fierce imagination that brought human/fish mutants to life with descriptions that made it possible to visualize creatures I could never have dreamed up.
Michael Buckley also shows a realistic reaction of how the U.S. government might react if a subspecies of humans ever invaded our land. The U.S. is very heavy in military and our police force, yet also full of people with different beliefs. The police state Coney Island became, full of protesters that caused all kinds of havoc, is easy to visualize actually occurring in this country.
Even though this was a fantasy, the events felt possible and the reactions of the characters felt real. The novel moved fast with non-stop action and a bunch of twists that I didn't see coming. The climax and the plot kept me interested, and I would gladly continue on with this series.
Michael Buckley also shows a realistic reaction of how the U.S. government might react if a subspecies of humans ever invaded our land. The U.S. is very heavy in military and our police force, yet also full of people with different beliefs. The police state Coney Island became, full of protesters that caused all kinds of havoc, is easy to visualize actually occurring in this country.
Even though this was a fantasy, the events felt possible and the reactions of the characters felt real. The novel moved fast with non-stop action and a bunch of twists that I didn't see coming. The climax and the plot kept me interested, and I would gladly continue on with this series.
February 23, 2015
I must admit, I had low expectations for Undertow initially. It seemed like your generic alien invasion dystopia – aliens come, aliens are misunderstood, aliens prepare for fight with humans, one human understands them and must stop the battle before it’s too late. Truthfully, the only problem with this book is the injustice any kind of summary can do to it.
I fell in love with Lyric instantly. After getting over the Walker family’s names, which were later explained and reasoned, I was free to give her the adoration she deserves. She has depth that is astoundingly realistic, her motivations gradually revealed throughout the story, each point becoming clear in the reader’s mind just lines before its reveal. Her life is grounded in her surroundings and relations and she clearly had one even before the happenings in the book have started. We get a glimpse all versions of Lyric, and they’re all so fantastic and realistic and multi-layered I have nothing bad to say. In fact, every character in the series gets the same treatment, with a distinguished personality to even the most minor characters.
Lyric’s world is astounding as well. Every character is of a different ethnicity and background, with themes such as money and abuse intricately woven into the story. The locations are engraved into my mind completely, from the boardwalk to the amusement parks near the beach to the rooftop Gabriel took Lyric to.
I’ll admit, this book’s beginning is completely average. It didn’t force me to stay up, nor did it linger in the back of my mind at every moment, but once you get through to the middle you won’t put the book down until the end. The tension in Coney Island and the urge to find out more about the Alpha and Lyric’s relation to them will pull you in even when the plot is slow, and a heart-breaking death is, of course, included in the YA-book package.
In short, except for the slow beginning there’s nothing not to love in Undertow, from the characters to the world-building to the plot.
January 1, 2018
Another stunning cover…
⇝Ratings Breakdown⇜
Plot: 4.2/5
Main Characters: 4/5
Secondary Characters: 4/5
The Feels: 3.8/5
Pacing: 4.2/5
Addictiveness: 4.2/5
Theme or Tone: 4.3/5
Flow (Writing Style): 4.5/5
Backdrop (World Building): 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Book Cover: 5/5
Narration: 4/5
Ending: 4.2/5 Cliffhanger: "to be continued"
Steam Factor 0-5: 1
Narration: Jennifer Grace
Setting: Coney Island
Source: Audiobook (Library)
Total: 4.2/5 STARS - GRADE=B+
⇝My Thoughts⇜
This book started out fantastically for me, with its beautiful imagery and the totally unique world. It's like our present day world with a sort-of dystopian/apocalyptic feel to it. Then the insta-love (and I mean straight-up instant) and some teenage super-drama kind of brought it a little low for me. Despite that, it is a remarkably imaginative story.
⇝Will I continue this series?⇜ I'm actually torn because book 2 has lots of bad reviews, (even more teenage super-drama, supposedly) and Idk what I want to do with this series…I can't find the second book on audio unless I use one of my credits on Audible. I don't think I want to do that considering the reviews for it…but a part of me really w)ants to see where this goes. So yeah, I guess only time will tell.
⇝Ratings Breakdown⇜
Plot: 4.2/5
Main Characters: 4/5
Secondary Characters: 4/5
The Feels: 3.8/5
Pacing: 4.2/5
Addictiveness: 4.2/5
Theme or Tone: 4.3/5
Flow (Writing Style): 4.5/5
Backdrop (World Building): 5/5
Originality: 5/5
Book Cover: 5/5
Narration: 4/5
Ending: 4.2/5 Cliffhanger: "to be continued"
Steam Factor 0-5: 1
Narration: Jennifer Grace
Setting: Coney Island
Source: Audiobook (Library)
Total: 4.2/5 STARS - GRADE=B+
⇝My Thoughts⇜
This book started out fantastically for me, with its beautiful imagery and the totally unique world. It's like our present day world with a sort-of dystopian/apocalyptic feel to it. Then the insta-love (and I mean straight-up instant) and some teenage super-drama kind of brought it a little low for me. Despite that, it is a remarkably imaginative story.
⇝Will I continue this series?⇜ I'm actually torn because book 2 has lots of bad reviews, (even more teenage super-drama, supposedly) and Idk what I want to do with this series…I can't find the second book on audio unless I use one of my credits on Audible. I don't think I want to do that considering the reviews for it…but a part of me really w)ants to see where this goes. So yeah, I guess only time will tell.
May 14, 2015
Three stars: Mer people clash with humans and chaos ensues.
Lyric wishes she could pull the covers over her head and skip this day. Her best friend, Bex, has other ideas. Bex insists they have to look their best as they might be on tv. Today is the day that their Coney Island high school is being integrated. The new students are from the Alpha race, a group of mer people, who came out of the ocean three years ago. Lyric knows that trouble is going to ensue because humanity still hasn't accepted the Alpha. Lyric must keep her head down and try to remain invisible. Lyric is also hiding a big secret. Can Lyric protect her secret and maintain a low profile?
What I Liked:
*I admit, I am not a fan of mermaid books because so far my experience with them has been rather lackluster. I was pleased that Undertow was not your typical mermaid book. This one reads a bit like a dystopian blended with a sci fi book. It is more like an alien invasion via the sea vs. space. I also appreciated the difficult social issues that were explored in this one. From extreme prejudice to domestic abuse, there were some tough topics in this read. All in all, it was an entertaining and exciting premise that sets up for what will hopefully be a solid series.
*I liked that the Alpha race was diverse and like nothing I had encountered before. I enjoyed meeting the different Alphas and learning more about their powers and abilities. I also liked that they were a bit aggressive and standoffish, it made the read more scary.
*Lyric is a likable heroine. She is a teenage girl with a big burden on her shoulders, and then things get worse. I appreciated how hard she fought to save her family, and that she always tried to do what she could to help her best friend. I also enjoyed watching her slowly let go of her own fears and prejudices when it comes to the Alpha. Lyric also possesses a fun sense of humor, and some of her commentary is funny, especially when it comes to her nasty, nosy neighbor.
*One of the highlights of the book for me was when Lyric was teaching Fathom to read. I loved his interpretation of many popular children's books from Red Fish, Blue Fish, to The Hungry Caterpillar and one of my forgotten childhood favorites, The Great Jam Sandwich. I loved that the author included all of these gems.
*I liked the mystery and the suspense in this one. There were so many things that I was itching to know, but the author refused to lay out all of his cards at once. Instead he delivered the snippets of information I was craving like breadcrumbs, which kept me reading until the thrilling end.
*The ending is a whirlpool of chaos and action. So much happens, it is hard to put it down during those final chapters. There are big revelations regarding the Alpha and why they came to Coney Island as well as about Lyric and some of the other Alpha. I also liked that unexpected people turned into allies. Everything collides into a stunning finale that will leave you itching for more.
And The Not So Much:
*I struggled a bit with lack of detail as far as the world building goes. The book takes place a full three years after the Alpha came to shore. During that three years, the Alpha have taken over the famous beaches of Coney Island, leaving the famous landmarks to ruin. Now the school is being integrated. What bothered me was there was never an explanation as to why the school was opening to the Alpha. The governor was not a supporter so who was behind the order? The U.S. government? I wanted to know who decided to integrate the school and why. Furthermore, it was indicated that Alpha had landed on other shores and that the U.S. government was involved with them, but there was no further explanation. So I never had a handle on how the government felt about the Alpha. Were they friends or foes? On one hand, it seemed they wanted to be friends, but on another, not. I also didn't like that the whole landing event was glossed over and only relayed in small flashback snippets. You would think that the big invasion would be a key part of the story. I thought the author missed the mark by not including more detail about the Alpha's arrival.
*The whole storyline with one of the original Alphas (I won't name her to avoid spoilers) bothered me. I wanted to know more about her life before she assimilated in the human population as well as how she went about passing off as human. There is absolutely no explanation about how these twenty Alphas came on shore and learned to be human. Furthermore, her human mate was in the know about her true origins. How did their romance come about? I was wanting to know so much more about this part of the story. I am sure it was an interesting conversation... along the lines of "I really like you but I have a big secret.... I am part mermaid?" How does that go over?
*The romance was a bit of a miss for me. It was rather predictable who Lyric would fall for from the beginning, and then when it played out, I felt it moved into romantic territory too quickly for my taste. I was enjoying the building of a hesitant friendship. Lyric wanted nothing to do with the Alpha prince, but then she was forced to help him learn to read. At first, things were moving along at a perfect speed, and then all of a sudden she loves him? I thought the romance lacked depth and emotion.
*I appreciated the story line with Bex and her abusive stepfather, but I was rather disappointed that after the big dramatic and tragic event that unfolds, Bex disappears and then resurfaces. What happened to her during that time and what did she do?
*The book ends with a big cliffhanger that I found frustrating. I am to the point where I have little tolerance for them. Expect no resolution and lots of unanswered questions.
Undertow is an exciting series opener with lots of promise. I liked that this one read a bit like an alien invasion meets the U.S. 1960's school integration. I appreciated the author's use of social themes as he takes on some big troubling societal issues from prejudice to domestic abuse. Unfortunately, I was a bit put off by lack of detail, lackluster romance and the cliffhanger. Still I liked this enough to recommend it for those who enjoy a dystopian type read with suspense, action and mer people.
Favorite Quotations:
"Her husband passed away two years ago. He choked on some soup. Really. I mean, who chokes to death on soup? Someone who's looking for a way out, that's who."
"He's also got on running shorts that have never been used for their intended purpose. If anything, they should be called "sitting around leering at teenage girls" shorts, or "practicing being a sociopath shorts."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@.
Lyric wishes she could pull the covers over her head and skip this day. Her best friend, Bex, has other ideas. Bex insists they have to look their best as they might be on tv. Today is the day that their Coney Island high school is being integrated. The new students are from the Alpha race, a group of mer people, who came out of the ocean three years ago. Lyric knows that trouble is going to ensue because humanity still hasn't accepted the Alpha. Lyric must keep her head down and try to remain invisible. Lyric is also hiding a big secret. Can Lyric protect her secret and maintain a low profile?
What I Liked:
*I admit, I am not a fan of mermaid books because so far my experience with them has been rather lackluster. I was pleased that Undertow was not your typical mermaid book. This one reads a bit like a dystopian blended with a sci fi book. It is more like an alien invasion via the sea vs. space. I also appreciated the difficult social issues that were explored in this one. From extreme prejudice to domestic abuse, there were some tough topics in this read. All in all, it was an entertaining and exciting premise that sets up for what will hopefully be a solid series.
*I liked that the Alpha race was diverse and like nothing I had encountered before. I enjoyed meeting the different Alphas and learning more about their powers and abilities. I also liked that they were a bit aggressive and standoffish, it made the read more scary.
*Lyric is a likable heroine. She is a teenage girl with a big burden on her shoulders, and then things get worse. I appreciated how hard she fought to save her family, and that she always tried to do what she could to help her best friend. I also enjoyed watching her slowly let go of her own fears and prejudices when it comes to the Alpha. Lyric also possesses a fun sense of humor, and some of her commentary is funny, especially when it comes to her nasty, nosy neighbor.
*One of the highlights of the book for me was when Lyric was teaching Fathom to read. I loved his interpretation of many popular children's books from Red Fish, Blue Fish, to The Hungry Caterpillar and one of my forgotten childhood favorites, The Great Jam Sandwich. I loved that the author included all of these gems.
*I liked the mystery and the suspense in this one. There were so many things that I was itching to know, but the author refused to lay out all of his cards at once. Instead he delivered the snippets of information I was craving like breadcrumbs, which kept me reading until the thrilling end.
*The ending is a whirlpool of chaos and action. So much happens, it is hard to put it down during those final chapters. There are big revelations regarding the Alpha and why they came to Coney Island as well as about Lyric and some of the other Alpha. I also liked that unexpected people turned into allies. Everything collides into a stunning finale that will leave you itching for more.
And The Not So Much:
*I struggled a bit with lack of detail as far as the world building goes. The book takes place a full three years after the Alpha came to shore. During that three years, the Alpha have taken over the famous beaches of Coney Island, leaving the famous landmarks to ruin. Now the school is being integrated. What bothered me was there was never an explanation as to why the school was opening to the Alpha. The governor was not a supporter so who was behind the order? The U.S. government? I wanted to know who decided to integrate the school and why. Furthermore, it was indicated that Alpha had landed on other shores and that the U.S. government was involved with them, but there was no further explanation. So I never had a handle on how the government felt about the Alpha. Were they friends or foes? On one hand, it seemed they wanted to be friends, but on another, not. I also didn't like that the whole landing event was glossed over and only relayed in small flashback snippets. You would think that the big invasion would be a key part of the story. I thought the author missed the mark by not including more detail about the Alpha's arrival.
*The whole storyline with one of the original Alphas (I won't name her to avoid spoilers) bothered me. I wanted to know more about her life before she assimilated in the human population as well as how she went about passing off as human. There is absolutely no explanation about how these twenty Alphas came on shore and learned to be human. Furthermore, her human mate was in the know about her true origins. How did their romance come about? I was wanting to know so much more about this part of the story. I am sure it was an interesting conversation... along the lines of "I really like you but I have a big secret.... I am part mermaid?" How does that go over?
*The romance was a bit of a miss for me. It was rather predictable who Lyric would fall for from the beginning, and then when it played out, I felt it moved into romantic territory too quickly for my taste. I was enjoying the building of a hesitant friendship. Lyric wanted nothing to do with the Alpha prince, but then she was forced to help him learn to read. At first, things were moving along at a perfect speed, and then all of a sudden she loves him? I thought the romance lacked depth and emotion.
*I appreciated the story line with Bex and her abusive stepfather, but I was rather disappointed that after the big dramatic and tragic event that unfolds, Bex disappears and then resurfaces. What happened to her during that time and what did she do?
*The book ends with a big cliffhanger that I found frustrating. I am to the point where I have little tolerance for them. Expect no resolution and lots of unanswered questions.
Undertow is an exciting series opener with lots of promise. I liked that this one read a bit like an alien invasion meets the U.S. 1960's school integration. I appreciated the author's use of social themes as he takes on some big troubling societal issues from prejudice to domestic abuse. Unfortunately, I was a bit put off by lack of detail, lackluster romance and the cliffhanger. Still I liked this enough to recommend it for those who enjoy a dystopian type read with suspense, action and mer people.
Favorite Quotations:
"Her husband passed away two years ago. He choked on some soup. Really. I mean, who chokes to death on soup? Someone who's looking for a way out, that's who."
"He's also got on running shorts that have never been used for their intended purpose. If anything, they should be called "sitting around leering at teenage girls" shorts, or "practicing being a sociopath shorts."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@.
May 16, 2015
When you think of the beach at Coney Island, what do you think of? I’m guessing 30,000 ocean-dwelling warriors coming ashore wasn’t your first thought. Strong, fierce and trapped in a guarded camp on shore, the Alpha have arrived. But why? Do they mean harm or are they running themselves to survive? Have humans fouled the waters so badly? The once peaceful tourist attraction is now the epicenter of human fear, distrust and violence as once again, the Lady in the Harbor is made a mockery of because someone was different.
The Alpha are being offered a life on land from the Federal government, but the masses disagree and a military state has been proclaimed. Schools become their own special brand of warzone and one girl is asked to tutor the great Prince of these people. Why Lyric? What can she do about it? Her hands are tied and her “friends” treat her like the enemy, but the tall and handsome prince has hooked her heart. Lyric has secrets and they are deadly, but when lives are on the line, she may no choice, but to reveal them. She alone, can make the difference, she alone can prevent the deaths of millions, or so, she was led to believe, until...
Undertow by young adult author, Michael Buckley will set the fantasy world on fire with this one! This is not the Hatfields and McCoys, this is survival, this is learning to accept the differences in others, this is learning to trust and act on the words on the Statute of Liberty and few are brave enough to take the chance. From page one, the wonder starts and we are plunged into the deep end of a tale being told at the speed of sound in rich detail and equally taut tension. Mr. Buckley has brought each character to life and added a dimension that defies being able to forget them long after the story is over. Without a wasted word, I was rocketed on a journey filled with secrets, a budding romance and the collision of two worlds.
Fascinating, magnetic and super-charged with plot details that go above and beyond merely “good” reading, this is a refreshing read in a world that never tires of fantasy and what ifs that won’t soon be forgotten, it is that powerful!!
I received this copy from HMH Books for Young Readers in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Undertow - Book 1
Publication Date: May 5, 2015
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780544348257
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 384 pages
Available from: |
Reviewed for:
The Alpha are being offered a life on land from the Federal government, but the masses disagree and a military state has been proclaimed. Schools become their own special brand of warzone and one girl is asked to tutor the great Prince of these people. Why Lyric? What can she do about it? Her hands are tied and her “friends” treat her like the enemy, but the tall and handsome prince has hooked her heart. Lyric has secrets and they are deadly, but when lives are on the line, she may no choice, but to reveal them. She alone, can make the difference, she alone can prevent the deaths of millions, or so, she was led to believe, until...
Undertow by young adult author, Michael Buckley will set the fantasy world on fire with this one! This is not the Hatfields and McCoys, this is survival, this is learning to accept the differences in others, this is learning to trust and act on the words on the Statute of Liberty and few are brave enough to take the chance. From page one, the wonder starts and we are plunged into the deep end of a tale being told at the speed of sound in rich detail and equally taut tension. Mr. Buckley has brought each character to life and added a dimension that defies being able to forget them long after the story is over. Without a wasted word, I was rocketed on a journey filled with secrets, a budding romance and the collision of two worlds.
Fascinating, magnetic and super-charged with plot details that go above and beyond merely “good” reading, this is a refreshing read in a world that never tires of fantasy and what ifs that won’t soon be forgotten, it is that powerful!!
I received this copy from HMH Books for Young Readers in exchange for my honest review.
Series: Undertow - Book 1
Publication Date: May 5, 2015
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 9780544348257
Genre: YA Fantasy
Print Length: 384 pages
Available from: |
Reviewed for:
June 12, 2015
Don't call them Mermaids.
They prefer to be called Alpha. One day they showed up ashore on Coney Island and claimed refugee status. Now the youth are allowed to integrate high school, and due to a class stunt gone wrong Lyric is designated to introduce their prince, Fathom, to human life. But what will happen if he discovers her greatest secret -- that she isn't human either?
Alpha, Sirena, or even sons of the ocean -- Buckley created a new race with special fighting abilities. Of course, he mixed the political aspect of it all, adding on to the tension. But it's the relationship between Lyric and her loved ones that keep me turning pages. Her best friend Bex deals with domestic abuse and Buckley weaves it well into the story.
A great new series that promises lots of romance.
They prefer to be called Alpha. One day they showed up ashore on Coney Island and claimed refugee status. Now the youth are allowed to integrate high school, and due to a class stunt gone wrong Lyric is designated to introduce their prince, Fathom, to human life. But what will happen if he discovers her greatest secret -- that she isn't human either?
Alpha, Sirena, or even sons of the ocean -- Buckley created a new race with special fighting abilities. Of course, he mixed the political aspect of it all, adding on to the tension. But it's the relationship between Lyric and her loved ones that keep me turning pages. Her best friend Bex deals with domestic abuse and Buckley weaves it well into the story.
A great new series that promises lots of romance.
July 28, 2016
Okay, so don't ask me why, but this book was for me some kind of romance, and it absolutely false.
The world building is dark and the fear is the main aspect of the story. I like the way the author wrote about the fear of someone different, with a different way of live, how humain can be cruel without any reason exept fear. It was well done, and I like this.
The world building is dark and the fear is the main aspect of the story. I like the way the author wrote about the fear of someone different, with a different way of live, how humain can be cruel without any reason exept fear. It was well done, and I like this.
July 20, 2016
Originally posted on :
Undertow by Michael Buckley is a young adult novel that I was so pleased to have discovered at Barnes and Noble during one lunchtime book shopping rendezvous. It’s the first book in a new dystopian trilogy which takes place on Coney Island and involves a race of Mermaids (this appeals to me on many levels). They set up a camp of tents in the area where the famous roller coaster once stood (as depicted on the beautiful cover). The government decides they should attend school with humans but just about everywhere has to be manned by police officers and military because a group of humans have banded together to form the Niners who commit violent crimes against the Alpha. Our main character, Lyric Walker is half human and half Alpha. Her mother was sent to the surface many years prior and she and her father are doing the best they can to blend in to protect Summer’s secret. I am surprised that I haven’t read any other blogger reviews or heard about it on BookTube and I think that is ultimately what piqued my interest even further.
While reading Undertow, I was equal parts fascinated and terrified with the state of Coney Island in this imagined future. Once the Alpha appeared on the surface with their feelings of superiority, they’re predictably unable to peacefully coexist with humans. There’s a nightly curfew imposed by the government and it’s completely unsafe to walk anywhere on your own. It’s even dangerous for kids to get to and from school and they’ve covered the classroom windows with brown paper so snipers don’t shoot the Alpha inside classrooms from atop other buildings. It’s been a while since I read a dystopian novel that felt different but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
One of the reasons I loved Undertow so much is because of the characters. Besides Lyric’s name (obviously she is half Alpha, how could anyone in this society with a name like Lyric not be?), all of the characters were believable and each had their own issues to overcome. Lyric and her family is very close-knit and not only because of the secret they’re hiding. Lyric’s mother Summer is Alpha and her father is a police officer. They’re always the first ones to offer Lyric’s best friend Bex a helping hand when her family situation gets out of control. I loved the protective nature that Lyric always exhibited for Bex and that instead of feeling helpless, she always felt responsible for changing things for Bex. And then there’s Fathom, Prince of the Alpha, who is stuck fighting daily battles in honor of his crazy father. Fathom and Lyric forge a relationship while Lyric teaches him during their daily sessions. The only character that I couldn’t and still haven’t figured out is Mr. Doyle, but I’m really looking forward to finding out more about him as the series continues!
Final Thoughts: Undertow by Michael Buckley is an original dystopian novel set on Coney Island after it has been invaded by a race of Mermaids called The Alpha. Lyric Walker, a half human, half Alpha hybrid bonds with the Alpha Prince Fathom and the pair try to make everyone see reason and realize that they might not be each other’s real threat. If you liked The Hunger Games I would definitely recommend checking this book out. The story is completely different but there are some very similar elements.
Undertow by Michael Buckley is a young adult novel that I was so pleased to have discovered at Barnes and Noble during one lunchtime book shopping rendezvous. It’s the first book in a new dystopian trilogy which takes place on Coney Island and involves a race of Mermaids (this appeals to me on many levels). They set up a camp of tents in the area where the famous roller coaster once stood (as depicted on the beautiful cover). The government decides they should attend school with humans but just about everywhere has to be manned by police officers and military because a group of humans have banded together to form the Niners who commit violent crimes against the Alpha. Our main character, Lyric Walker is half human and half Alpha. Her mother was sent to the surface many years prior and she and her father are doing the best they can to blend in to protect Summer’s secret. I am surprised that I haven’t read any other blogger reviews or heard about it on BookTube and I think that is ultimately what piqued my interest even further.
While reading Undertow, I was equal parts fascinated and terrified with the state of Coney Island in this imagined future. Once the Alpha appeared on the surface with their feelings of superiority, they’re predictably unable to peacefully coexist with humans. There’s a nightly curfew imposed by the government and it’s completely unsafe to walk anywhere on your own. It’s even dangerous for kids to get to and from school and they’ve covered the classroom windows with brown paper so snipers don’t shoot the Alpha inside classrooms from atop other buildings. It’s been a while since I read a dystopian novel that felt different but I thoroughly enjoyed this one.
One of the reasons I loved Undertow so much is because of the characters. Besides Lyric’s name (obviously she is half Alpha, how could anyone in this society with a name like Lyric not be?), all of the characters were believable and each had their own issues to overcome. Lyric and her family is very close-knit and not only because of the secret they’re hiding. Lyric’s mother Summer is Alpha and her father is a police officer. They’re always the first ones to offer Lyric’s best friend Bex a helping hand when her family situation gets out of control. I loved the protective nature that Lyric always exhibited for Bex and that instead of feeling helpless, she always felt responsible for changing things for Bex. And then there’s Fathom, Prince of the Alpha, who is stuck fighting daily battles in honor of his crazy father. Fathom and Lyric forge a relationship while Lyric teaches him during their daily sessions. The only character that I couldn’t and still haven’t figured out is Mr. Doyle, but I’m really looking forward to finding out more about him as the series continues!
Final Thoughts: Undertow by Michael Buckley is an original dystopian novel set on Coney Island after it has been invaded by a race of Mermaids called The Alpha. Lyric Walker, a half human, half Alpha hybrid bonds with the Alpha Prince Fathom and the pair try to make everyone see reason and realize that they might not be each other’s real threat. If you liked The Hunger Games I would definitely recommend checking this book out. The story is completely different but there are some very similar elements.
October 14, 2015
4.5 stars
So, I admit, I originally added this to my tbr pile because I loved the cover :-/ which, as we all know, can either go really good or really horribly bad. It worked out great this time around.
We all hear about aliens and about how vast space is, how there are so many believers out there convinced that one day Earth will be invaded by them. But how many stop and think the same about Earth's very own oceans? Because the fact of the matter is, Humans still haven't been able to explore the deepest parts of the oceans. There is still so much out there undiscovered. Well, Michael Buckley has taken that and built one hell of a story with that premise.
3 years ago, 14 year old Lyric Walker was witness to the Alpha ( or the First Men ) arriving on the shores of Coney Island. Initially, you would think mermaids, but the Alpha are fierce warriors. The world's initial wonder quickly turn into paranoia and fear of the unknown. Coney Island is transformed into a military zone.
Cut to present times. Lyric's high school is about to become the first school to open it's doors to the Alpha. Many are horrified by this and start to take matters into their own hands. There are protesters outside the school doors every morning, some of them very violent. By this point, there is so much hate towards the Alpha and anyone who is thought to sympathize with them. Now 17, Lyric is recruited into helping the crown prince, Fathom, adjust to life as an American teenager. While she initially refuses, they form an unlikely friendship, which develops into something more. All the mistrust and violence against the Alpha steadily increase, but they're not the worst thing hiding beneath the shores. There is something much more terrifying than the Alpha. And they're coming.
This book, to me, was incredible and very original. It touched on some tough subjects, the main ones being abuse and racism. Buckley's writing just completely drew me in. I felt as if I was in the crowd outside the doors of Hylan High, watching all the chaos ensue with the protesters and all the police and even military attempting to keep order and it painted a scary picture. I've gotta wonder if this is how it was when segregation came to an end in America, if people then were as hateful as they were in this novel. Buckley handled these subjects wonderfully, in my opinion. I can't wait to see where Buckley goes with this series next.
So, I admit, I originally added this to my tbr pile because I loved the cover :-/ which, as we all know, can either go really good or really horribly bad. It worked out great this time around.
We all hear about aliens and about how vast space is, how there are so many believers out there convinced that one day Earth will be invaded by them. But how many stop and think the same about Earth's very own oceans? Because the fact of the matter is, Humans still haven't been able to explore the deepest parts of the oceans. There is still so much out there undiscovered. Well, Michael Buckley has taken that and built one hell of a story with that premise.
3 years ago, 14 year old Lyric Walker was witness to the Alpha ( or the First Men ) arriving on the shores of Coney Island. Initially, you would think mermaids, but the Alpha are fierce warriors. The world's initial wonder quickly turn into paranoia and fear of the unknown. Coney Island is transformed into a military zone.
Cut to present times. Lyric's high school is about to become the first school to open it's doors to the Alpha. Many are horrified by this and start to take matters into their own hands. There are protesters outside the school doors every morning, some of them very violent. By this point, there is so much hate towards the Alpha and anyone who is thought to sympathize with them. Now 17, Lyric is recruited into helping the crown prince, Fathom, adjust to life as an American teenager. While she initially refuses, they form an unlikely friendship, which develops into something more. All the mistrust and violence against the Alpha steadily increase, but they're not the worst thing hiding beneath the shores. There is something much more terrifying than the Alpha. And they're coming.
This book, to me, was incredible and very original. It touched on some tough subjects, the main ones being abuse and racism. Buckley's writing just completely drew me in. I felt as if I was in the crowd outside the doors of Hylan High, watching all the chaos ensue with the protesters and all the police and even military attempting to keep order and it painted a scary picture. I've gotta wonder if this is how it was when segregation came to an end in America, if people then were as hateful as they were in this novel. Buckley handled these subjects wonderfully, in my opinion. I can't wait to see where Buckley goes with this series next.
May 7, 2015
First thing first, this book was insane. Secondly, it is rare. And third of all, it was a great read!
I honestly believed this was about aliens but they are more of mermaids-type-of-aliens… ish? But the hot kind. Who cares if they’re aliens/mermaids when you are staring at a god? I do have to admit that I made the decision to review this book based on the cover….SHOCKER! However, what impress me the most, once I started reading is how original the story is. Something I haven't read before.
Undertow begins with Lyric’s first day of school. She is telling us how the government implemented a new school program and how she is to share classes with the Alpha. At this, she starts to explain to us how the Alpha arrived to Coney Island three years ago. She also tells us ever since their arrival, her life has not been the same. To begin with, her mother somehow knew of their arrival. Also, there are things that she was told to keep in secret, without knowing the reasons. These secrets are dangerous, which she is not aware of and will discover why.
As Lyric begins to learn about the Alpha – their history and how they think, she falls for one of them. Like every great story, there must be conflicts. Things do not go well and soon the Alpha are classified as enemy to the human race.
Undertow covers complex topics, such as racism, abuse, government control and many more. Michael does a fantastic job by not leaning to any side. He just states the facts and covers these by creating amazing cast.
I loved Lyric. She is a loyal daughter and friend. A teenager facing a difficult situation and making hard decisions. She doesn't let this bring her down. Instead, she allows this to make her stronger by willing to learn and follow her heart. As far as her best friend, let’s just say she is sarcastic and I loved all her lines. Now with Fathom, the crown prince, it takes time to warm up to his character. Nonetheless, once you fall for him, you fall hard.
Overall, Undertow is a great read! It starts slow but as the world is built, the action and mystery begins to take over. There is so many things happening, one is so entertained and doesn't realize the time. Frankly, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. As I turned the pages, the more I was consumed by the story. A great read and I hope everyone gives Undertow a try! - Leydy
I honestly believed this was about aliens but they are more of mermaids-type-of-aliens… ish? But the hot kind. Who cares if they’re aliens/mermaids when you are staring at a god? I do have to admit that I made the decision to review this book based on the cover….SHOCKER! However, what impress me the most, once I started reading is how original the story is. Something I haven't read before.
Undertow begins with Lyric’s first day of school. She is telling us how the government implemented a new school program and how she is to share classes with the Alpha. At this, she starts to explain to us how the Alpha arrived to Coney Island three years ago. She also tells us ever since their arrival, her life has not been the same. To begin with, her mother somehow knew of their arrival. Also, there are things that she was told to keep in secret, without knowing the reasons. These secrets are dangerous, which she is not aware of and will discover why.
As Lyric begins to learn about the Alpha – their history and how they think, she falls for one of them. Like every great story, there must be conflicts. Things do not go well and soon the Alpha are classified as enemy to the human race.
Undertow covers complex topics, such as racism, abuse, government control and many more. Michael does a fantastic job by not leaning to any side. He just states the facts and covers these by creating amazing cast.
I loved Lyric. She is a loyal daughter and friend. A teenager facing a difficult situation and making hard decisions. She doesn't let this bring her down. Instead, she allows this to make her stronger by willing to learn and follow her heart. As far as her best friend, let’s just say she is sarcastic and I loved all her lines. Now with Fathom, the crown prince, it takes time to warm up to his character. Nonetheless, once you fall for him, you fall hard.
Overall, Undertow is a great read! It starts slow but as the world is built, the action and mystery begins to take over. There is so many things happening, one is so entertained and doesn't realize the time. Frankly, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. As I turned the pages, the more I was consumed by the story. A great read and I hope everyone gives Undertow a try! - Leydy
May 9, 2015
Review also posted at
Usually people have a weak spot for the request button when it comes to ARCs, but for me it's read now button. That little green think will be the end of me, trust me. I just cannot resist it. It usually turns out to be a complete waste of my time, but it's rare books like Undertow that give me hope.
As I haven't read the blurb for this, I honestly expected it to be about circus. It's just the cover looks like circus and I somehow though it must be it. But, don't be fooled as this has nothing to do with circus. Trust me on that. This is actually a book about a world being attacked by a new species. This time the threat is coming from the place the scariest to me - the sea. You can speak whatever you want, but I strongly believe there are different kind of creatures down there that we never wish to meet. Here we get to meet them, and it's not really something you want to come true. Well not all of it.
Even though this book is full of new things, as in new creatures and world building. It's also full of suspense and will keep you on edge. But at the same time it surely has a good deal of predictable elements. Lyrics our main character is what you can call your average YA heroin. She has sort of a normal life, but one full of secrets she has to deal with. Then there is Fanthom, a boy from another sort she must not fall for. But she does and it turns into much more than love story. But still each step of their romance was nicely built that I couldn't but fall for it. I cheered and prayed and I'll continue doing so in the sequel.
When it comes to the sequel it has a great deal of tangles to fix and I cannot wait to see it happen.
Usually people have a weak spot for the request button when it comes to ARCs, but for me it's read now button. That little green think will be the end of me, trust me. I just cannot resist it. It usually turns out to be a complete waste of my time, but it's rare books like Undertow that give me hope.
As I haven't read the blurb for this, I honestly expected it to be about circus. It's just the cover looks like circus and I somehow though it must be it. But, don't be fooled as this has nothing to do with circus. Trust me on that. This is actually a book about a world being attacked by a new species. This time the threat is coming from the place the scariest to me - the sea. You can speak whatever you want, but I strongly believe there are different kind of creatures down there that we never wish to meet. Here we get to meet them, and it's not really something you want to come true. Well not all of it.
Even though this book is full of new things, as in new creatures and world building. It's also full of suspense and will keep you on edge. But at the same time it surely has a good deal of predictable elements. Lyrics our main character is what you can call your average YA heroin. She has sort of a normal life, but one full of secrets she has to deal with. Then there is Fanthom, a boy from another sort she must not fall for. But she does and it turns into much more than love story. But still each step of their romance was nicely built that I couldn't but fall for it. I cheered and prayed and I'll continue doing so in the sequel.
When it comes to the sequel it has a great deal of tangles to fix and I cannot wait to see it happen.
June 30, 2015
See this review and more on my blog,
Undertow was one of my most anticipated Spring releases this year - I mean hello, sea creatures coming on land and just camping out in Cooney Island? H-YES! After reviews were popping up and a lot of MEHS were going around, I got really, really nervous. But I pushed out the MEH and drove right in.
And I REALLY liked it!
My favorite parts? Well, I loved how descriptive and gruesome the Alpha's were. It was like all of Davy Jones' crew jumped ship and came ashore! I also loved how one of the major key points in the plot was brought to our attention EARLY and not dragged out throughout the whole book. I have seen his done so many times, it was refreshing to know (even though I would have figured it out) early on. I also love close-knit family. Maybe I am getting sappy in my old age.
The romance aspect was kind of.. eh. I liked both Lyric and Fathom; together and individually, but I did wish it wasn't so romance heavy towards the end. That is my only issue with the book, though!
Action packed, often hilarious and gruesome and I loved it! I cannot WAIT to read The Raging Sea .
I received this book for free from The Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Undertow was one of my most anticipated Spring releases this year - I mean hello, sea creatures coming on land and just camping out in Cooney Island? H-YES! After reviews were popping up and a lot of MEHS were going around, I got really, really nervous. But I pushed out the MEH and drove right in.
And I REALLY liked it!
My favorite parts? Well, I loved how descriptive and gruesome the Alpha's were. It was like all of Davy Jones' crew jumped ship and came ashore! I also loved how one of the major key points in the plot was brought to our attention EARLY and not dragged out throughout the whole book. I have seen his done so many times, it was refreshing to know (even though I would have figured it out) early on. I also love close-knit family. Maybe I am getting sappy in my old age.
The romance aspect was kind of.. eh. I liked both Lyric and Fathom; together and individually, but I did wish it wasn't so romance heavy towards the end. That is my only issue with the book, though!
Action packed, often hilarious and gruesome and I loved it! I cannot WAIT to read The Raging Sea .
I received this book for free from The Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
September 9, 2015
*Genre* Young Adult, 카지노싸이트 Fiction, Paranormal
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
Undertow is the first book in the trilogy known as Undertow by new to me author Michael Buckley. 3 years ago, then 14-year old Lyric Walker watched with her mother and father as 30,000 beings known as Alphas, walked out of the ocean, and came ashore at Coney Island where they were feared by some and welcomed by others. As a 17-year old, Lyric, who suffers from severe and debilitating migraines, lives in a world where the Alpha's are sequestered to a rather large tent city surrounded by fences, and men with guns. All hell breaks loose when the school district decides to invite Alpha's to attend the local high school Lyric and her friends Becca and Shadow attend.
*Full Review Posted @ Talk Supe Blog
Published May 5th 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers
*Rating* 4.0
*My Thoughts*
Undertow is the first book in the trilogy known as Undertow by new to me author Michael Buckley. 3 years ago, then 14-year old Lyric Walker watched with her mother and father as 30,000 beings known as Alphas, walked out of the ocean, and came ashore at Coney Island where they were feared by some and welcomed by others. As a 17-year old, Lyric, who suffers from severe and debilitating migraines, lives in a world where the Alpha's are sequestered to a rather large tent city surrounded by fences, and men with guns. All hell breaks loose when the school district decides to invite Alpha's to attend the local high school Lyric and her friends Becca and Shadow attend.
*Full Review Posted @ Talk Supe Blog
Published May 5th 2015 by HMH Books for Young Readers
February 24, 2016
**DNF AT (LIKELY AROUND) 80 PAGES*
While reading this, I lost faith in humanity, pretty much hated every single character, guessed the plot twist immediately, and didn't care about anyone or anything. I say a different alien race (this time the Boov) comes and takes over the whole earth, making it their new home.
While reading this, I lost faith in humanity, pretty much hated every single character, guessed the plot twist immediately, and didn't care about anyone or anything. I say a different alien race (this time the Boov) comes and takes over the whole earth, making it their new home.
March 17, 2020
DNF at 25%
I'm done. No way no way am I finishing this. I'm so tired of authors putting a bunch of sex in their books. It's unnecessary! I'm having such bad luck with books lately. This putting me into a reading slump which is not good because I'll have three weeks with absolutely nothing to do.
I'm done. No way no way am I finishing this. I'm so tired of authors putting a bunch of sex in their books. It's unnecessary! I'm having such bad luck with books lately. This putting me into a reading slump which is not good because I'll have three weeks with absolutely nothing to do.
Want to read
June 4, 2015Proof that snazzy covers and GoodReads advertisements do make me want to read the summary of a book sometimes.
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