Rumor Has It welcomes Leigh Michael, Annabelle and the wonderful Sprites to the blog! To the Mami Wata, you are welcomed here anytime! Thank you to the beautiful Leigh Michael for providing me with a copy of Sprite to review and for allowing Rumor Has It to participate in the tour. Today I have for you a series synopsis, my review, author spotlight and my favorite excerpt. Mind you, that excerpt is more of a teaser because I'm not giving it all away. :-P
Annabelle Walsh thought she had it all. She was the star of her swim team, had a loving family, a great boyfriend, and to top it off, she’d be starting at UCLA in the fall. One day, she’d be referred to as Dr. Annabelle Walsh.
She was living every girl’s dream – until her life was turned upside down. All starting with finding out that she's not just a human, but also a water spirit. Half-human, half-sprite to be exact. Although not just any sprite, Annabelle is prophesied to be the only one who can save both the sprites and mankind.
With a mix of current events, anecdotes from Greek mythology, tidbits of folklore, and Leigh’s own imagination, we join Annabelle in her journey to restore order beneath the sea. Each step of the way her mind, body, and soul are pushed to the limit begging the question, how much can one half-human, half-sprite take?
The Review
Annabelle, an 18 year old star swimmer who will be starting UCLA’s pre-med program in the fall, finds out one cold winter day that she is part human and part sprite. She also finds out that she is a part of a prophecy that will forever change her life.
I liked:
The cover of the book. Just look at it.
The overall plot of the book. Girl finds out she is part mystical in nature and is needed to help out the people she is a descendant of.
The Greek Mythology included in this book as well as the lore of the Yoruba people. There is a legend/story, if you will, that is believed to be connected to Annabelle herself. I totally loved how the author used the Arethusa myth as the foundation of the plot. I've always loved Greek Mythology and the many stories that continue to be told of all the gods and goddesses. It was also nice to see the Mami Wata included in this book because the Yoruba people are a beautiful people with rich history and beliefs.
YaYa. Queen of the Merpeople and she’s quite an interesting character. I was glued to my IPad when she spoke of the history of their people.
The Ending. Possibly the best part of the book and when I say the ending I do mean the very last page. Honestly, I didn't see it coming and it was definitely a WOW.
In Summary
This is a totally different world than the one Annabelle is used to. She is a huge part of its survival and I just wanted a bit more conviction in her kick_assery. However, because of the plot, the myths and the great ending I do look forward to reading the next book in the series. Annabelle is still one to be on the look out for, though. She shows growth in this read and I can’t wait to see how much further she grows in the next installment. KICK SOME BUTT ANNABELLE!
I liked:
The cover of the book. Just look at it.
The overall plot of the book. Girl finds out she is part mystical in nature and is needed to help out the people she is a descendant of.
The Greek Mythology included in this book as well as the lore of the Yoruba people. There is a legend/story, if you will, that is believed to be connected to Annabelle herself. I totally loved how the author used the Arethusa myth as the foundation of the plot. I've always loved Greek Mythology and the many stories that continue to be told of all the gods and goddesses. It was also nice to see the Mami Wata included in this book because the Yoruba people are a beautiful people with rich history and beliefs.
YaYa. Queen of the Merpeople and she’s quite an interesting character. I was glued to my IPad when she spoke of the history of their people.
The Ending. Possibly the best part of the book and when I say the ending I do mean the very last page. Honestly, I didn't see it coming and it was definitely a WOW.
In Summary
This is a totally different world than the one Annabelle is used to. She is a huge part of its survival and I just wanted a bit more conviction in her kick_assery. However, because of the plot, the myths and the great ending I do look forward to reading the next book in the series. Annabelle is still one to be on the look out for, though. She shows growth in this read and I can’t wait to see how much further she grows in the next installment. KICK SOME BUTT ANNABELLE!
The Excerpt
I chose this excerpt because I thought it was written really well. You witness the excitement of a chase, Annabelle's strength, the nuance of an unknown ability and a handful of other emotions, along with a revelation that, I for one, didn't expect.
The selkie had a good jump on me and shot through the water seamlessly.
In my head. I screamed to go faster, to catch up. And just like that, I felt a current of water pushing me from behind.
I had always used my affinity for water as a defensive tool. It was a way to stop an attack or avoid a situation. This time, I used my power more offensively. I didn't even know I could do that.
The selkie started off by cutting across the ocean, but as he neared the shore, he swam towards the surface.
As I chased him, I continued to use the currents to propel myself faster, cutting down the distance between us.
He reached the surface first, diving in and out of the water to make his way to the shore.
I took a different approach and stayed underwater, using a combination of my currents and the waves to push me closer to land.
Finally, the waves threw me onto the beach, landing on my hands and knees.
It took a moment to catch my breath. It was a weird sensation going from breathing water to once again breathing air. It seemed like forever since I'd been on land. At first, my body didn't know how to react. I felt the wind against my skin and the faint sound of seagulls in the distance.
Still on my hands and knees, I raised my head to locate the escaping selkie. It was dark and the rising moon cast the only light, making it a challenge to see.
As my eyes landed on him, I watched as he pulled the seal skin down his body to reveal the silhouette of his human form.
Then, he turned his head toward me.
But wait.
No, no, no.
No, it couldn't be.
My brow wrinkled as I pleaded with myself to be wrong.
The moonlight lit up a glimpse of the selkie's face.
But it wasn't just any face.
It was a face I recognized.
One I trusted...
Purchase information:
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| I absolutely LOVE this Bio Pic. :-) |
Author Bio:
Leigh Michael is an author of YA fiction. She's worked within the advertising world for nearly a decade before writing her debut series, Annabelle's Story. Leigh lives in Washington, DC with her husband and goldendoodle. Please learn more about Leigh and her works at www.LeighMichaelBooks.com.
Leigh Michael is an author of YA fiction. She's worked within the advertising world for nearly a decade before writing her debut series, Annabelle's Story. Leigh lives in Washington, DC with her husband and goldendoodle. Please learn more about Leigh and her works at www.LeighMichaelBooks.com.
Connect with Leigh:
Thank you, Mirely! I'm really excited for you to read Kin (especially since you'll see lots more of the Mami Wata!)
ReplyDeleteThank you Leigh! You are pretty awesome. Can't wait to read up on the Mami Wata!
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