The Vicious Deep

June 1, 2012

Gr 9 Up-Tristan Hart loves the ocean. He's on the swim team, works as a lifeguard, and hangs out at the beaches near Coney Island. He is a charming guy and a bit of a player, but now he's mainly interested in Layla, a swim-team buddy who's matured to fill her swimsuit most attractively. When a rogue wave knocks him unconscious, he dreams of a vicious shark/mermaid. Over the next chapters, his skin begins to itch, he wonders about his mother's complete lack of contact with her relatives, and, by chapter 10, he is aghast to learn that he is growing a tail. Tristan is not just any merman. He is Lord Tristan, grandson of the Sea King. Two protectors appear, taking human shape and showing him how to control the shift from legs to tail. They have Tristan's same charm with the opposite sex, and their awkward presence at school provides some light moments. Together (with Layla as a stowaway) they sail to meet his grandfather on a hidden island. Tristan and Layla learn the history of merfolk and meet fairies, vampires, and other nonhumans. To determine who will be the new king, five champions must battle to find three pieces of a broken trident. There are amusing sidekicks and horrifying creatures (merrows) and run-ins with the mysterious shark/mermaid as the teams hunt for oracles to offer assistance. Occasional cursing and lustful thoughts suggest an older teen audience. This book screeches to a halt when Tristan finds a piece of the trident. For fantasy readers who don't mind waiting for the remainder of the story, this book offers an inventive beginning.-Maggie Knapp, Trinity Valley School, Fort Worth, TX

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.