Audio Book Review: Of Neptune: Syrena Legacy, Book 3 by Anna Banks

The final book in this trilogy adds some new interest and resolves okay in spite of some weak elements. 
Of Neptune: Syrena Legacy, Book 3
Author: Anna Banks
Narrator: Rebecca Gibel

Series: The Syrena Legacy, book 3
Runtime: 9.6 Hours
Recording: Unabridged
Release date: 5.13.2014
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Genre: Fiction/Childrens [I would not class this as Childrens]
ISBN-13: 978-1-4829-8785-0

Genre: YA Fantasy
My Rating: 3.75 of 5.0

Summary:
Emma and Galen’s kingdom—and their love—is threatened by long-lost Syrena in the brilliant conclusion to Anna Banks’ bestselling trilogy.
Emma, half human and half Syrena, and her Syrena love, Galen, need time together—alone. Away from the kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton. Emma’s grandfather, the Poseidon king, suggests the two visit a small town called Neptune.
Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half-Breeds alike. But Emma and Galen didn’t sign up to be peacemakers between the ocean and the land-dwelling, freshwater Syrena. They didn’t bargain for meeting a charming Half-Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma. And they especially didn’t expect to find themselves in the middle of a power struggle that threatens not only their love but their ocean kingdoms.
In this stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy, Anna Banks thrills fans with more action and romance than ever.
© 2014 by Anna Banks

Review:
Galen is insistent on taking Emma away for some down time after the excitement and loses in book two, Of Triton. Galen is still reeling from the death of his best human friend and assistant, Rachel. Galen’s older brother, Grom, the King of Triton, is against Galen and Emma taking time off especially in the human world. But the Poseidon king, Emma’s grandfather, has directed Emma to take Galen to a particular ‘vacation’ spot in Tennessee.

Emma is delighted to discover that Neptune is a community of land dwelling Syrenas and Half-Breeds. Galen isn’t happy about the discovery because Half-Breeds, other than Emma, are not accepted by the ocean Syrena. Also, a local, charming young man, Reed, has an immediate attraction to Emma.

Unfortunately, Neptune isn’t completely the peaceful place it appears. Some of the inhabitants are intent on forcing the sea tribes of Syrena to accept the land tribes and Half-Breeds.  There is also a deceiving human who is setting traps with the goal to capture and expose the mer-people. Galen and Emma are surprised to find themselves as hostage targets by two different interests. First they need rescue and then they have to deal with human exposure and the problems that Neptune represents to the ocean world.

I enjoyed the underlying plot for the most part although some of the hostage attacks seemed rather “set up”. What really bothered me though was the hormonal attraction between Galen and Emma and the lame, unnecessary attempt at a  love triangle. Okay, I guess it’s to be expected in a YA story, but after the nice restraint in the first two books I find that a bit annoying. Suddenly the strong relationship and respect between Emma and Galen is spoiled with teenage lust, doubt and jealousy. Fortunately their passion and petty issues are way-laid by the activities in Neptune and ultimately the story ends well. Beyond the issues noted, I do recommend the full series as entertaining.

Audio Notes: Initially I was distracted by what sounded to me as "whining" narration. I didn’t remember having that trouble with book one and my audio notes in the review for Of Poseidon indicate that I wasn’t so effected. It took a few hours into this audio before the story took precedence over the narration. Rebecca Gibel’s voice is suitable for the YA characters so it was as much a content issue as voice issue I think that was distracting for me. I suggest that a reader listen to the audio sample and decide if they are comfortable.

I received this download from Blackstone Audio through Audiobook Jukebox for an honest review.

Book Review: Of Triton (The Syrena Legacy) by Anna Banks

This is an engaging sequel to book one.
Of Triton (The Syrena Legacy)
by Anna Banks

File Size: 932 KB
Print Length: 256 pages
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends; Reprint edition (May 28, 2013)
Sold by: Macmillan
ASIN: B00BCFZLQ0
Genre: YA, Paranormal
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: May 28, 2013
Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm. Syrena law states all Half-Breeds should be put to death.
As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance in the Syrena world turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?
Once again, Anna Banks infuses Emma and Galen’s points of view with humor, intrigue, and waves of romance.

Review:
Emma has learned that her mother, Nalia, is the missing princess of Poseidon. Syrenas, the mer-people, do not accept half-breeds and Nalia is afraid of what they will do to Emma so Nalia convinces her to run. Emma is reluctant as she doesn’t want to leave behind Galen who has gone to get his brother Grom, the Triton king and Nalia’s long ago fiance.

Grom is excited to discover that Nalia is alive but he has many complications to face. He has recently agreed to strengthen the relationships between Tritons and Poseidons by accepting Paca as a mate. Paca is a young woman who supposedly has the gift of Poseidon because she can direct dolphins with hand signs. When Grom returns with Nalia, Paca’s father, Jagen, and his friends question Nalia’s true identity. Jagen is a danger as he is challenging the royal family for control of the Syrena people.

Meanwhile, Galen still thinks that they should keep Emma’s exsistence as a half-breed a secret even though Emma clearly has the true gift of Poseiden. She can talk to all the fish and mammals of the ocean who are more than glad to play with her or follow her direction.

There are more fun moments with volatile Rayna, Galen’s sister, and her new mate, Toraf, the best tracker of the Syrena. Also there is much help from Galen’s faithful human assistant, Rachel. Although there is mutual, strong attraction, Gavin and Emma continue to honor their commitment to keep their relationship pure until they can mate.

The plot is very engaging with changes in several of the characters and danger from within and without the Syrena community. I found this to be a good sequel to book one, Of Poseidon, and a quick and enjoyable read. I am looking forward to listening to the final book for review.

I selected this story in eBook form to read before reviewing the third book.

Audio Book Review: Of Poseidon by Anna Banks

This is an engaging, unexpected, positive surprise.

Of Poseidon

by Anna Banks

Published by AudioGO

UNABRIDGED AUDIOBOOK
Reader: Rebecca Gibel
Running Time: 9hrs 32min
Genre: Fantasy
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Description:
Emma and her friend Chloe are spending vacation in Florida. When Emma (literally) runs into a hot guy named Galen on the beach, little does she know he’s a prince of the Syrena. Galen and Emma both feel something strange–is it attraction?–and Galen suspects that Emma might well be the girl he’s heard of–a human who can communicate with fish. What follows is a deadly scene with a shark in which Galen witnesses Emma’s gifts. He must know more about her, and follows her back to New Jersey, and high school, to find out for sure if she’s the key to saving his kingdom. Soon, Emma can’t deny her feelings for him, but can’t explain them, either–and both she and Galen must learn more about where she comes from and what her powers are before they can trust one another and their feelings. Told from both Emma and Galen’s points of view, here is a fish-out-of-water story that sparkles with intrigue, humor, and waves of romance.

Review:
This was the YA selection paired with The Tempest and I was delightfully surprised!
Emma is an awkward teen who runs into a hot guy, Galen, on a Florida beach. There is a strange, electrical pull between them and Galen is alarmed by Emma’s violet eyes. That is a color that should only belong to the Syrena a race of mer-people who live hidden from humans. Galen suspects that Emma has the gift of Poseidon - the ability to communicate with fish. If that is true she may be destined to be his brother’s mate and to unite enemy factions.

Galen follows Emma home to New Jersey where he meets her in school pretending to be a student. Galen and Emma grow closer even as Galen tries to resist the attraction between them. Galen is joined by his sister, best friend and his human “step-mom.” They are sensing an unrecognized signature in the water that seems to be a threat to Emma so they are trying to protect her. Meanwhile Emma, who isn’t so self-assured, is getting frustrated by the mixed messages that she is getting from Galen who seems to really like her but holds her at arms length.

The characters are sweet and fun with wonderful chemistry. The plot is well developed and there is plenty of conflict, mystery and action. I got lost listening to the story and was so engrossed that I was startled by the cliff-hanger ending. I couldn't wait to get online to make sure there was a follow-up book available! I recommend this as a fun sweet read/listen. This is an interesting pairing with The Tempest and I wouldn't work too hard at making comparisons. I really enjoyed this much more.

Audio Notes: I obviously was wrapped up in the narration. There were a couple of times when the POV changed and it wasn’t totally clear at first but smoothed out pretty quickly. Rebecca Gibel’s narration voice fit the age of the characters even if it wasn't what I expected - but neither was the story - in a good way.

I received this and The Tempest from SYNC YA May 30 – June 5, 2013.