Book review ~ "Waterfell" by Amalie Howard

Waterfell by Amalie Howard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Source: Netgalley
Genre: YA

Book Description: THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE QUEEN

Nerissa Marin hides among teens in her human form, waiting for the day she can claim her birthright—the undersea kingdom stolen from her the day her father was murdered. Blending in is her best weapon—until her father's betrayer confronts Nerissa and challenges her to a battle to the death on Nerissa's upcoming birthday—the day she comes of age. 

Amid danger and the heartbreak of her missing mother, falling for a human boy is the last thing Nerissa should do. But Lo Seavon breaches her defenses and somehow becomes the only person she can count on to help her desperate search for her mother, a prisoner of Nerissa's mortal enemy. Is Lo the linchpin that might win Nerissa back her crown? Or will this mortal boy become the weakness that destroys her?


My thoughts: Waterfell is a very interesting book. You know from the beginning that it has sea creatures, you just do not know what they are. This book lies somewhere between fantasy, paranormal, and sci-fi. I am not sure there is a good classification for this book because it is unique.

Rissa is royalty from the Aquarathi. The Aquarathi are a species that is hard to describe, I am not going to try because Amalie Howard does it so well in the book. While they are defined, she leaves a bit to your own imagination.

Rissa is put in a very precarious position. She is the heir to the throne, there are secrets withheld from her, she longs to live a normal life, and she doesn't know what to make of the cute boy, Lo, who has taken an obvious interest in her. The main problem is that she is not human. She can take on a human form and feel human emotions, but she has to hold herself back from the people she cares about.

She knows that she must eventually face her father's adversary. Ehmorah wants to rule. She wants to force the Aquarathi and humans into submission to her authority. She will do whatever it takes to achieve her goals and Rissa is in her way.

This book pulled me in after the first few chapters. I was a little confused at the beginning and it took some time to see how the events described came into play with the story line.

This book is a Young Adult book. I would recommend to readers over 16 due to swearing, innuendo, and violence.

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