Review: Luminaire by Ciye Cho

Luminaire (Florence Waverley #2) by Ciye Cho

Published; December 2012

Purchase:Amazon

Synopsis:

Being the only human in a world of merfolk… isn’t easy. Florence Waverley chose to stay in Niemela, but things have gone awry. Secrets have risen and the prince she cares about has pulled away. All the while, dark dreams warn her of a tragedy that only she can stop. But in order to save the merman she loves, Florence will have to enter the Life Path tournament: a brutal test of fear and madness.

The tournament is a rite of passage–a maze where young mermaids and mermen battle to find their purpose. It is also a place where Florence will face grave danger: mermaids with evil magic, tunnels filled with sea fire, and guardians who wish to use her as a pawn in their secret plans. But will Florence be strong enough to survive the tournament… or will she perish inside it?
Everything hangs in the balance: her life, her world, and her love.

(“Luminaire” is the second book in the Florence Waverley series.)

Review:

While I really liked Florence (the first book in this series) I have to say that Luminaire surpassed it. This is my favorite YA Mermaid series and one I think anyone, no matter their age, will enjoy.

Florence has chosen to remain with the mers in their underwater world of Niemela. Yet for some reason the new mer king, Rolan, starts to pull away from her. Hurt and confused Florence starts having some disturbing dark dreams. Yolee though still treats her like a sister and need her support to get through the Life Path Tournament. Since she can talk to some of the animals, Florence decides to enter the Tournament as well, even though Rolan doesn’t want her to.

This underwater world that Mr. Cho has created is so unique and sounds so beautiful. It is an easy place to get lost in. While the ending was wonderful I am very hopeful that this won’t be the end of Florence’s journey.