Review: Just for Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on September 5, 2012 | 4 Comments


Review: Just for Fins by Tera Lynn ChildsJust for Fins by Tera Lynn Childs
Series: Fins #3
Published by Katherine Tegen (7.3.2012)
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Format: Hardcover, 272 pages
Source: Library
Buy on Amazon


4 Stars

When Lily Sanderson decided to remain Crown Princess Waterlily of the mermaid kingdom Thalassinia, she knew she couldn’t just coast along in the current. But since she’s spent the last couple of years on land—with gorgeous human Quince by her side—Lily’s not sure she has the fins to lead a kingdom. Even her maddeningly pretentious cousin Dosinia seems to know more about ruling than she does.

But Lily has to dive in deep to keep her promise to Tellin, her mer bond in name only, whose kingdom is suffering in the changing ocean climate. Lily knows this is a seven seas–sized problem: from sea animals dying to oil spills and threats to humans. They’ll need to create some serious waves to make the mer community aware and get it to join together to make things right. Even if that means facing one of the iciest queens in the mer kingdoms.

Just when Lily thinks her double life on land and sea can’t get any more complicated, an ancient mer law might separate Lily and Quince after all. It feels as if the pair is up against a solid tsunami wave!

In this third installment in the series that began with Forgive My Fins and Fins Are Forever, Lily will have to find a way to balance safety and justice for the mer people as well as for the humans she loves.

My thoughts

Just like the first two books in the Fins series, Just for Fins was a cute and fun read! I devoured it all in almost one sitting, and in one day (that doesn’t happen very often!).

Lily and Quince are back for another magical adventure, and their relationship is stronger than ever. The romance wasn’t the biggest focus in this book, but their love for each other was obvious in their actions. I love Quince!
There was a lot of politics in this one – but not so much that it dragged down my enjoyment. It created conflict in a good way; it made you want resolution. Everything is falling apart in the mer world, and Lord love a lobster, Lily is stuck in the middle of it! Things were bad and it seemed there wasn’t a way to make all sides happy, but I was pleased with the solution that Lily came up with in the end.

Lily is such a great protagonist! She’s a princess and a mermaid, sure, but she’s still human on the inside and she’s easy to relate to. She’s sweet and considerate, but she can really step up and be tough when necessary.

I love the writing in this series! All of the sea quips and play-ons really submerge you further in the story (ha, see what I did there? Alright, so maybe I’m a little lame…).

The only thing I felt was lacking in Just for Fins? A map. I would have loved to see a map of the mer kingdoms in the beginning. With all the kings and queens of all the kingdoms, I had trouble keeping track of them all: Nephropida, Rosmarus, Marbella Nova, Antillenes. A map of all the kingdoms and rulers would have been an extremely helpful addition!

 
quotes
I growl, debating whether crawling over the table to strangle her would count as mermicide. Surely a jury of anyone who’s ever met my bratty cousin would understand.
 
assessment
Plot: 4/5
Writing style: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Pace: 5/5
Cover: 4.5/5
 
Overall rating: 4/5 starfish
 
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Jessi (Geo)

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4 responses to “Review: Just for Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

  1. I need to read this series! I just love Childs! I have the first 2 books of this series. I love her Sweet Venom series as well! If you liked this series, you should check it out!

  2. Forgive My Fins is definitely the best of the series, you should give it a go! I did read Sweet Venom, it was pretty good. I’ll be reading Sweet Shadows as soon as it comes in at my library :)

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