Waterfell

December 2, 2013
Combining high school romance with fantasy and SF elements, Howard (Bloodspell) launches her Aquarathi series, about an alien race taking shelter in Earth's seas. Nerissa Marin is a high school junior in San Diego; secretly, she's also the heir to the Aquarathi throne, hiding in the human world after the assassination of her father by the usurper Ehmora. Like Hamlet, Nerissa feels compelled to avenge her father's murder and take her rightful place as ruler, but fear, indecision, and her affections for fellow student Lo cloud her resolve. Readers won't gain much of a sense of the Aquarathi world in Howard's first installment; the narrative provides only glimpses of the kingdom and its inhabitants as Nerissa is embroiled in a lackluster love story in a realistic high school setting; late revelations add weight to the somewhat insubstantial passion between Nerissa and Lo. Nerissa's smartest move is to confide in her human best friend Jennaâsmart, spunky, and believably incredulous, she's the story's best-realized character on water or land. Ages 14âup. Agent: Lisa Fleissig, Liza Royce Agency.

October 15, 2013
A coming-of-age story complicated by regicide, superhuman powers, the duty to protect a kingdom and one hot surfer. Despite Rissa Marin's prowess at field hockey, her body aches for the sea--but once in the water, things get complicated. Rissa is no ordinary 16-year-old. Although she appears human, Rissa is actually Aquarathi, an alien race of sea creatures with superhuman powers that intensify in water. As heir to the throne of the deep-sea Aquarathi kingdom of Waterfell, Rissa has been sent on land to intermingle with humans in preparation for her role as queen. While she is there, Rissa's father is murdered, making her fearful to return to Waterfell to face her father's killer and rightfully claim her throne. Despite her sense of duty, Rissa's fear paralyzes her, and she grows content in her human guise--so much so that she unexpectedly finds herself falling for the new, attractive surfer, Lo, who mysteriously arrives at her school. Although the tale starts off slowly, thoroughly introducing Rissa and her fantastical race, it pays off; as it quickly picks up the pace, Rissa and her painful dilemma both compel. Just the first installment in a series, this text nevertheless delivers a complete story arc while leaving enough loose ends to make the next installments tempting. A fantastical surf-and-turf romance. (Paranormal romance. 14-17)

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November 15, 2013
Grades 9-12 Nerissa has been sequestered among humans, protected by her handlers, Echlios and Soren, and their teenage son, Speio. The evil Ehmora has disposed of both the king and queen of Waterfell, Nerissa's parents, and is ruling the underwater kingdom by default. Once Nerissa comes of age, she is obligated to return to Waterfell to challenge Ehmora to the death. If she wins, she will become queen of the Aquarathi people, never to revisit her human form. Nerissa, however, is loath to return. She's happily ensconced in high-school life with best friend, Jenna; a spot on the championship field hockey team; and a strange but exciting relationship with new guy Lo Seavon. Yet Ehmora draws menacingly closer, causing Nerissa to wonder just whom she can trust. Howard has crafted a page-turning blend of magical realism and fantasy, set in an American high school starring a main character who morphs from sea monster to gorgeous sixteen-year-old with ease. Plot shifts, surprises, and a love affair not yet fully realized sets readers up for the second in the trilogy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)