Review: The Mermaid's Mirror

The Mermaid's Mirror by L.K Madigan
Date Released: October 04, 2010
Published by: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Pages: Hardcover, 336 pages
Young Adult
Overall:

 Lena has lived her whole life near the beach—walking for miles up and down the shore and breathing the salty air, swimming in the cold water, and watching the surfers rule the waves—the problem is, she’s spent her whole life just watching.
As her sixteenth birthday approaches, Lena vows she will no longer watch from the sand: she will learn to surf.
But her father – a former surfer himself – refuses to allow her to take lessons. After a near drowning in his past, he can’t bear to let Lena take up the risky sport.
Yet something lures Lena to the water … an ancient, powerful magic. One morning Lena catches sight of this magic: a beautiful woman—with a silvery tail.
Nothing will keep Lena from seeking the mermaid, not even the dangerous waves at Magic Crescent Cove.
And soon … what she sees in the mermaid’s mirror will change her life … 
Synopsis via Goodreads

 My Thoughts:

There is something magical about the cover of The Mermaid's Mirror, alone, is there not?  It was the first thing that caught my
eye when I was given the opportunity to review this book.  It really reeled me in (lol, I won't go there.)

L.K. Madigan brought to me a world that I quite didn't expect even with the cover being a very accurate indication of this book's true worth.  Madigan didn't stop at bringing me a world I already knew, she brought me one more, one which is believably decorating the ocean floor beneath the breaking waves that Selena, our main character, watches
with a passion and yearning I couldn't help but feel.

The importance of family, friends and the need to follow your heart is a huge player in this book.  The aspect of family weighs heavy on Lena as she faces the mystery surrounding her existence, her mother and her father's fear of the ocean.  Her friendships prove loyal and strong as well giving this story an added depth that is explored and appreciated.

All characters, including footed and finned both, are well defined and likable, even those who weren't so nice.  It felt good to read a story where there was true definition to each character.  One of my favorite characters, I easily fell in love with, was one who was under the sea and I believe stole many hearts not only my own, Nix.  His role in
this story added the extra sense of a fairytale even though not all fairytales are happily-ever-afters. 

Simply yet beautifully written, The Mermaid's Mirror is a story with a lot going on including its own mystery and heart breaking romance.  It has a lingering affect on your heart, leaving you aching for not only what Lena left behind (and went home to) but for a continuation of her story.  Even with a fulfilling story and well tied ending it just left me wanting more.

Thank You to NetGalley and Houghton Mifflin for providing an e-galley for me to review.

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