Tangled Tides did not win me over in the first chapter, or even the second for that matter, but the description had me so intrigued that I didn't want to stop for fear of missing out on something great. I mean.. what's more precious to Yara than HER LIFE?! I just had to know. My gut was right and I ended up loving this story!
This story is a combination of multiple paranormal / fantastical creatures. It's not just mermaids and selkies like the description includes. There are also bird like Sirens, Ghost like figures, and Gorgons!! Yes Gorgons, as in Medusa. Snake hair and a gaze that turns you to stone MEDUSA! Karen Amanda Hooper added elements that basically made it to where I could not put this story down because I just HAD to know how it all tied together.
The characters were strong, though some more than others. You may think that there is going to be a love triangle in the beginning of the story, but rest assured there is not. I really enjoyed the push and pull of the romance that was there and really can't wait to see how it grows! Yara was a very .... Stubborn girl.. but she has her reasons. With all the lying going on around her and being forced to become a mermaid against her will, who wouldn't be a bit pissed off and hard headed?
Sometimes the world got a bit confusing with so many elements going on. At times it frustrated me, and at others I thought " this is probably how Yara feels about everything that's going on. Overwhelmed."
The story has some great scenes. The concepts were wonderful and really had me entranced during certain scenes. There is some wonderful humor, interesting mythology, new ideas on mer and selkie lore, some heartbreak and deceit.... It just really all blended together wonderfully.
There were definitely some complications with the story. Some ideas that didn't quite mesh well, some moments when it seemed over the top, and some writing that didn't quite feel polished. BUT the overall story held me and had me wanting more. None of those things made me want to stop the book or even put it down for a moment.
I would highly recommend Tangled Tides to fans of Mer and Selkie stories, and also fans of mythology. These elements are combined in a way that I hadn't experienced before and I think other readers will really enjoy it!