Tangled Tides

Hmmmm...

Hmmm.....
Most of us have made that sound, I believe. It commonly occurs when we are in the midst of a meal that is so enjoyable - so downright wonderful you wish it wouldn't end - but if it doesn't, you know the experience will in some way be spoiled.
That, my friends, is what it's like to read first time novelist Karen Amanda Hooper's Tangled Tides.
Yes, I'm comparing a novel to a darn good meal & I'll tell you why: because, like traditional French cuisine, course after delectable course is offered to it's readers and does not in any way disappoint! An exquisite read for it's YA audience, Tangled Tides is a sumptuous tale I could not release, once I caught my first taste.

I do admit to being wary about the content of this book. Being the author of a merfolk trilogy myself, I did not wish to be encumbered with a rehash of what I had already written. However, this delightfully spirited story cared not for my misgivings & whisked me along it's rapid current whether I was prepared or not! And what a ride it was!! I was delighted to find that the only commonality between our work was the word "mermaid", and within hours, I had completed this colorfully written work of art.

Tangled Tides bubbles with magic, exhilaration, passion, danger - all the makings of a truly magnificent work of fiction - or true life if it suites you. How could one not wish to become entangled with such charm? Instead of boring the reader into a stupor with yards of backstory, the beginning instantly launches into the heart of the tale. The narration thrusts the angst and desires of teen passion upon you, forcing your heart to race as you experience Yara's life changing consequences along with her. The detail lush and rich, I could not have asked for more and trying to imagine the opulent merworld created by Hooper was as easy as reaching for a refreshing glass of champagne to ready myself for the next perfect chapter. The conclusion - what can I say? It was akin to receiving a Baked Alaska to complete your delicious French meal - a startling, but delicious end to your perfect dining experience. You'll just have to take my word for it.

Do I recommend you read this book? No. I recommend you anticipate it, buy it, talk about it, immerse yourself in it, and then - tell the world about it because, just like you experience a meal, you will experience Tangled Tides, and my friends, you are in for a lovely swim.

- Ashley L. Knight, author of FINS and FATHOM

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Wow this book blew me away! The characters were entertaining and

Wow this book blew me away! The characters were entertaining and you felt for them. The romance was steamy, the danger was intense and the villains were bad but still made you see where they were coming from. The plot was unique and one of a kind, your defiantly not going to find a story line like this any where.

So we start off with Yara trying to hold the house down during a storm when a stranger walks in and tells her he can take her somewhere safe. So she goes, but not in a dumb way you get it once the story goes on, and wakes up with a tail. Once she realizes shes been turned into a mermaid she remembers everything her boyfriend Rownan told her and thinks shes turned into an evil monster. But no one is who they appear to be theres betrayal and heartache through out the whole book. There are gorgons, selkie and mermaids... that all have to do with why the gates have sealed and they can't get home. So they have a plan on how to open it but there plans aren't the same but they all have one thing ing common... Yara. A must read!
P.S. there is not a love triangle, cause I know there are people out there that hate them as much as I do.

Compared to the other mythical creatures in literature, mermaids

Compared to the other mythical creatures in literature, mermaids don't have as much of a voice. Enter Karen Amanda Hooper's Tangled Tides. Mermaids are the main focus, but Karen doesn't just drop you at one act of myth, instead creating a whole world of deep and meaningful characters. Even those who only lasted a few pages were strong enough to stand alone in the world of the ocean depths. (Do I need to mention I couldn't put this book down even when I was on the treadmill?)
Yara (love the name) is wonderfully headstrong yet fragile when her whole world turns upside down and living underwater is no longer a questionable thing. I might have taken to being a fish a bit quicker, but Yara's determination to be human again toward the beginning is part of her charm.

Now, I read the reviews before I purchased this book and I would like to address those of the two star or less variety: I don't think they read past page 10. They are caught up in "seagarette" and "c-weed", which they deem somehow cliche when I've NEVER heard of those phrases before. They didn't give the story a chance, but YOU definitely should.

Ms. Hooper has drafted a world where each character's voice is unique and gives you a clear mind map of who they are and what they want. Yara and Treygan are a wonderful pair for humor, romance, and the tension that makes a reader's heart pound.

A-freakin'-mazing!!! Where do I start? Mermaids are not usually

A-freakin'-mazing!!!

Where do I start? Mermaids are not usually my first choice for reading material. However, the cover caught my eye, the blurb intrigued me, and the first chapter sealed the deal. I read Tangled Tides in one sitting. Why? Because the characters draw you in and the story line pulls you along by a hook attached to your eyelids. No blinking...you might miss something! Originality combined with mythology swirling in a whirlpool of romantic angst and true love = Tangled Tides. What a fantastic series debut. I can't wait to read more of Ms Hooper's Sea Monster Memoirs!

I saw that quote on a few book blogs but I had to put it anyway

I saw that quote on a few book blogs but I had to put it anyway, it's so beautiful!
"Love until it kills you, because there's nothing better worth dying for,"

Refreshing, exciting and one of the most pleasurable YA mermaid tale I read since The Little Mermaid!

I stumbled on the cover of this book in October 2011 when I was on Goodreads and suddenly the mix of bright colors has drawn my eyes and I clicked on the book cover. When I read the blurb I knew I had to have it, one way or another! The cover of this book is magic! I just can imagine the importance of this transformation and the passion felt by the main character (Yara, displayed here on the cover)!

Yara seems to be a spontaneous, joyful girl and desperate to be there for her family. She's very close to nature and she possesses a natural beauty and goodness! She got some temper mixed up with a good sense of humour, still quite open and approachable, the kind of best friend every girl would love to have!

Treygan is the perfect YA male character! Here's what I want/looking for/love from the male character (YA or Adult): troubled: check, handsome/sexy/to die for: check, muscular: check, tormented hero kind: check, alpha male: check, overprotective and possessive of the one he love: check, supernatural creature/supernatural power: check! Treygan is a future Adult alpha male character, just like my cotton candy guy!

I loved this book; it brings me back so many beautiful and precious childhood memories!
When I was young, I dreamed of being a mermaid! Read this book also made me discover the wonderful world of sea monsters! Make no mistake; this book isn't only based on a mermaid story! The reader will find a bunch of supernatural sea creatures!

Moreover, the author is also inspired by Greek mythology and inserted in her story by matching these mythical creatures to the legend of Medusa and the God Poseidon. Karen Amanda Hooper is a writer who has a special talent: she can rewrite a whole chapter from a different POV without feeling/looking like a repeated scene! I love the fact that we could read and feel/experience different POV because we all know that a girl doesn't think like a guy and it's normal!

Her writing style (full of emotions), the terms used and the meaning she gives to her sentences, easily put the reader in context and really allows us to imagine a girl troubled by her recent discoveries, or a young man who seems to hold the fate of his people on his shoulders! Even tears! Yes... I admit this: some parts of this book brought me some tears: (ironic) I give my mermaid tears for those sad scenes!

I recommend this book to all YA Paranormal Romance lovers! If you like mermaid’s stories or sea monsters stories, this book is for you! I know you won't want to put it down! Should buy or at least borrow! Put on your TBR pile!

Reviewed by Laura Carter for Readers Favorite During a hurrican

Reviewed by Laura Carter for Readers Favorite

During a hurricane, a mysterious stranger tells nearly 18 year old Yara to wish for him to take her somewhere safe. The next thing Yara knows is that she is waking up underwater, as a mermaid. In a world full of mythical creatures, Treygan, who is the stranger responsible for turning Yara into a mermaid, and his half-brother Rownan- a selkie, both believe that Yara is the key to saving each of their races. As Yara starts to fall for her merman protector Treygan, she slowly begins to realize that things may not be as simple as originally thought. She will learn that her whole life has been a lie, and she will discover her destiny.

I absolutely loved this book! It was impossible to put it down from start to finish. When I read the description for this book I thought “mermaids? Hmmm…..” but I decided to give the book a chance and I am so glad I did. It is a truly original book; I have never read anything like it before. The plot twisted and turned and was interwoven with the most fantastic characters. I loved Yara’s spirit, and Treygan was just amazing. The mythology and background to the story was well-planned out, as were all the mythological creatures: mermaids, selkies, sirens and gorgons all feature in this fantastic book. A one of a kind book, one of my favorites so far this year and definitely a must read.

Refreshingly Good

I loved this! It was so original and refreshing with compelling characters and world building that made you nearly feel as though these creatures could really exist out there in the ocean somewhere. My connection to the characters was almost instantaneous and I loved the way their relationships developed throughout the novel. There is some sensuality and sort of drug references (you'll have to read it to see what I mean) but both are handled well by the author and are completely natural to the novel. Karen's beautiful writing has made a fan of me. I look forward to her next book.

A fantastical tale worth reading again and again

Karen Hooper truly has created a wonderful story that I will read and re-read. The premise of the story was fresh and exciting with a cast of characters that I quickly fell in love with. Through Karen Hooper's writing I was able to feel every emotion that the characters felt and the way each scene was described with such vivid words made it very easy for me to picture everything that was going on in my mind. My favorite part of Tangled Tides though was how the relationship between Yara and Treygan grew and blossomed into a love so deep that every person hopes and longs for.

this author has sidelined my love for fairies! whoohoo Mermaids & Mermen

One night an unforeseen hurricane takes aim on the island where Yara lives with her Uncle. While trying to board up her home, an unexpected visitor takes her away. Waking up underwater with fins, Yara is confused and scared; remembering the stories her boyfriend Rownan has told her about merfolk. Soon secrets surface about a past that dates back all the way to Poseiden and Medusa, and how Yara is the future for opening a gateway that has been closed off for many years. Yara learns that Rownan is actually a Selkie, and her kidnapper, the mysterious merman Treygan, is her guardian. She now must figure out who she can trust and who she must help to break a curse to open the gateway. But with a growing attaraction between her and Treygan, it may all prove too costly.


I don¿t believe I have ever read a story about mermaids before but once I read the summary of Tangled Tides, I knew I had to read it. Thankful for the chance to review the book, I dove in and was hooked just pages into the story. Every bit of the storyline consumed me and I would read until I could no longer hold my eyes open. I immediately fell for Treygan, loving him from the start. Rownan...not so much. There was just something about him that seemed off from the start, not allowing me to root for him. And soon you find out what it is. But each character was brilliantly written and I enjoyed every moment with them hearing their story.


Tangled Tides is an amazing story of love and sacrifice, not just for Yara, but the other characters as well. Karen Amanda Hooper knows how to spin a tale that is not only entertaining but intriguing as well. She keeps you guessing throughout the book with the right about of suspense and anticipation. Hooper's mermaids are fast becoming my favorite, even more than my love for faeries. This is most definitely a must read and I look forward to more stories from this author.
In fact, I am craving them!

Not your typical mer-tale

When I first heard of Tangled Tides, by Karen Hooper, my mind immediately went to Disney¿s ¿The Little Mermaid¿. However, to say that Tangled Tides is just a fun story about mermaids would be doing it an injustice. Yes, it is a story where the protagonist is a mermaid, but there are other mythical sea creatures weaved tightly into the tale making it more than just another mermaid story.

Tangled Tides follows the story of Yara, as she is transformed from human to mermaid and the complicated web of family secrets that follow. There is mythology, betrayal, mystery and a splash of romance. Written using three different points of view, the reader gets a complete look from all parties involved.

I enjoyed this story immensely, though, in the very end I got a little confused and had to go re-read a few pages. However, the good far outweighed anything else. I loved the way Karen took different pieces of mythology and knitted them together as her own. I loved the world that she created - though I wished we could have seen more of Rathe and life there. I also appreciated the way she worked out communication under water - speaking through eye contact as opposed to voice.

Once I was hooked, I couldn¿t put it down. Tangled is a good word to describe the twists and turns that can be found within the pages of this novel. Why do the mermaids want Yara? Why are the selkies fighting for her allegiance? Who is she and why is she important? The story keeps you on your toes, unraveling the secrets of Yara¿s past and future.

I can¿t wait to see what else lies ahead for Yara and the others. I think anyone who loves mythology and fantasy would enjoy this tale.

Best mer/ selkies i have ever read

Secrets, mer people and selkies!!!
I could hardly put this book down!!!!

exotic and unforgettable characters, sweet romance that will captivate readers

ara was a caring, determined, loving girl with a temper. Her character was a likable, relatable and realistic one. She was an orphan and her only family was her Uncle Lloyd. She had a boyfriend ¿ Rownan ¿ who was ruggedly handsome but had a coat with secrets and lies covering his true identity. During a strong storm, a stranger came and took Yara away. That night was the night her night changed forever, the night she was turned into a mermaid. As she struggled to get over the shock of being half-woman and half-fish, she discovered that her reality was not as true as she believed it to be. She wanted answers and she will stop at nothing to get them.

Treygan was the stranger who took Yara to sea. In the beginning, I had my doubts about him. But he proved to be trustworthy to Yara. He was a good guardian to Yara and loyal to his merfolk. He¿s charming and handsome but there¿s a distance between him and other people. There¿s something dark about Treygan. He had too heavy a burden on his shoulders. But he had a soft spot for Yara.

Yara and Treygan¿s relationship was one based on trust and a buried connection. The attraction zinged between them underwater and on land. As the guardian of Yara, Treygan had to be near her almost all the time. The obligation to protect her turned into love at some point in Yara¿s adjustment to merlife. The threat to her life, danger and time spent together sped up the heightening of romance between them. They shared awkward moments as well as heart-melting ones. Their pair was a Romeo and Juliet mermaid-merman version that romance lovers will grow to like.

Underwater, Yara found out a shocking revelation about herself. She was the key to open the Gate to Rathe, the realm of merfolk and selkies. 18 years ago, the gorgons closed the Gate, enraged at an unfulfilled promise. Since then some of the merfolk and selkies have been locked out of Rathe, unable to communicate and get back to their loved ones in their realm. To solve this problem, on the sunset of her birthday, she was supposed to be a part of the ultimate sacrifice.

Tangled Tides is a refreshing paranormal novel that offers readers an exciting and thrilling adventure, a colorful and tragic history of underwater mythology, a cast of exotic and unforgettable characters and a sweet romance that will captivate readers.

Can I be a mermaid too?

Karen Amanda Hooper¿s TANGLED TIDES will make readers wish they lived under the sea.

Yara¿s eighteenth birthday isn¿t about turning into an adult, but a monster. She¿s transformed into a mermaid, and that¿s only the beginning of what she discovers within our realm. Selkies, Sirens, and Gorgons also have a place, and she¿s caught in the middle of being herself and saving sea monster-kind. Then, there is Treygan and Rownan. Two brothers who need her, but only one can have her. Yara has to discover what she is willing to sacrifice or they¿ll all be doomed.

The beginning of TANGLED TIDES starts a bit slow for me and is a little confusing jumping in and out of three different points of view, but quickly the confusion clears up. TANGLED TIDES is an ingenious tale combining Greek myths and sea monsters, such as mermaids, selkies, etc. The characters swoop the reader up into their lives. Some parts brought smiles, laughter, and tears. I want to be a mermaid, then a siren, even a gorgon sounds pretty cool. Hooper unveils this magnificent world she created, and I want to live in it.

Despite the slight hiccups in the beginning, TANGLED TIDES by Karen Amanda Hooper has caught me by hook, line, and sinker. I can¿t wait to delve below the sea in book two.

Not your typical mer-tale

When I first heard of Tangled Tides, by Karen Hooper, my mind immediately went to Disney¿s ¿The Little Mermaid¿. However, to say that Tangled Tides is just a fun story about mermaids would be doing it an injustice. Yes, it is a story where the protagonist is a mermaid, but there are other mythical sea creatures weaved tightly into the tale making it more than just another mermaid story.

Tangled Tides follows the story of Yara, as she is transformed from human to mermaid and the complicated web of family secrets that follow. There is mythology, betrayal, mystery and a splash of romance. Written using three different points of view, the reader gets a complete look from all parties involved.

I enjoyed this story immensely, though, in the very end I got a little confused and had to go re-read a few pages. However, the good far outweighed anything else. I loved the way Karen took different pieces of mythology and knitted them together as her own. I loved the world that she created - though I wished we could have seen more of Rathe and life there. I also appreciated the way she worked out communication under water - speaking through eye contact as opposed to voice.

Once I was hooked, I couldn¿t put it down. Tangled is a good word to describe the twists and turns that can be found within the pages of this novel. Why do the mermaids want Yara? Why are the selkies fighting for her allegiance? Who is she and why is she important? The story keeps you on your toes, unraveling the secrets of Yara¿s past and future.

I can¿t wait to see what else lies ahead for Yara and the others. I think anyone who loves mythology and fantasy would enjoy this tale.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.

No text was provided for this review.