Pacific Tails

Mermaids, murder, mystery with a side of a treasure hunt and a smudge of romance, what could be better, right?
This novel was nourishment for my inner child. It has everything you need in a book: adventure, danger, suspense, history, romance, comedy, sarcasm, character building, and a world the reader can get fully engrossed in.
It's a fast-paced and suspenseful story with interesting characters and a nice love story. Once I started reading I couldn't stop. I really enjoyed the story, but wish there was more romance between Baxter and Zoe. I would love to read more into their relationship. I’m so excited for the story to continue in the second book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was such an interesting read and I loved the worldbuilding that went into the book and I loved the whole host of characters!

An unsolved murder of a mermaid queen. A shattered stone pendant cursed and lost. A kingdom's existence in peril. All of it, is dependent on a college student and gifted swimmer, Zoe Vaughn, who thinks her life is falling apart.

This was really fun. I look forward to more from this author.

I liked that while this story focused on mermaids, it did mention other mystical beings. I liked the way the story read as a scavenger hunt, and it took you on a journey. I liked Zoe's growth as the book progressed, but at times, I felt like she was throwing a tantrum instead of focusing on the looming deadline. I wish Baxter had embraced his role more because he seemed to lack confidence, and I at times wondered how he was helpful in the role. I did enjoy Zoe and Baxter's connection with themselves and with the other characters that were introduced. He seemed to be in the way at times. I also felt that at times, the story felt a little rushed. I guess it's because Zoe had such little time to find so many items. Overall, I enjoyed the story and hope that there is a sequel to tie up the rest of the story and perhaps give more of a backstory on Melantha.

Zoe Vaughn has struggled with rumors but is on her way to a anew college with hopes that she can put that behind her, but her world is flipped upside-down by Baxter. Baxter, her college professor, is sure that Zoe is the reincarnation of Melantha. Melantha was the Mermaid Queen of the Pacific Oceans before being murdered. When she was dying she split her powers up into 5 stones to be found by her reincarnated self so her people can be saved. Joining forces Zoe and Baxter are determined to do just that.

“Pacific Tails” by Michelle Sauer was action packed. With romance, fighting, treasure hunting, and mermaids there is so much in the book to love. One of my favorite things about the book is that the distinct mermaid tribes, each representing different oceans and governed by their own royalty. Cannot wait to read more in this series to learn more about the other oceans mermaids. I wish there was a little more romance because the attraction between Zoe and Baxter is there and undeniable. I liked that the mermaids were almost skittish which connects to not only the story of being without their rightful queen but also with global warming. I gave it a 4 out of 5 stars and really would love to read more of this series.

I have always loved mermaids and this book really made my childhood me happy. It has so many genres I love, fantasy, mystery and romance. The start felt a tiny bit rushed as we went straight into the adventure which is not necessarily bad but I would have liked to get to know Zoe a bit more first. The book was fairly easy to read but one thing I felt was the romance was a little bit lacking, it felt awkward and a bit forced? I really wish there was a little more of it but I guess that might be a preference. But I loved the concept and all the ideas the writer had and I couldn’t stop reading it. Also the main focus is mermaids but it also has other mythical creatures which I enjoyed a lot.

I wish there was more romance shown in this book but I enjoyed it nonetheless. The world building was great and very well done. I love mermaids and this story was IT!!

Stars: 4

Dates read: 9/30-10/4

ARC provided by NetGalley

When starting the book, I found myself slightly confused and had found it to be fast-paced. Throughout reading, I found some highs of enjoying the book and then hit some lows that made me kinda have to push through reading it. Overall, it was a good read and I did enjoy it.

In general, I give this a straight 4 star review. Will I go get the book myself? Maybe. Will I recommend the book? Definitely if they are fans of different creatures and mermaids. If a second book came out, would I read it? We shall see when that point comes around.

Thank you very much for the opportunity to read this book early! I really enjoyed it. I thought the writing was very well done, and the story kept me interested. I believe my students/patrons would also love this book and will be acquiring it for the library!

Get ready to immerse yourself in the spellbinding world of "Pacific Tails," the inaugural installment of Michelle Sauer's thrilling duology. In a poignant twist of fate, Zoe, seeking escape from relentless bullying in California, is on the verge of boarding a plane to Connecticut when her mythology professor, Baxter, drops a bombshell: she is the reincarnation of a betrayed and murdered mermaid queen. Eager to distance herself from painful memories, Zoe is unexpectedly thrust into an extraordinary adventure, embarking on a quest to recover the 5 missing pieces of a mermaid pendant with Baxter. Their race against time unfolds with heart-pounding intensity.

I was utterly spellbound by "Pacific Tails"! This narrative unfolds with breakneck speed and a tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It masterfully encompasses all the essential elements of a literary masterpiece. It takes readers on a spine-tingling adventure, delving into impending danger, gripping suspense, rich historical tapestries, a sizzling love affair, humor that elicits laughter, sarcasm that stings, and character arcs that mesmerize. The world-building is immersive to the hilt.

This review is given of my own volition, and I had the privilege of receiving an advance review copy at no cost.

I really enjoyed this book! I found the worldbuilding extremely beautiful and interesting! The writing was extremely easy to read and I would love to read the next one.

Melantha - Mermaid Queen of the Pacific Ocean has been murdered shortly before giving up her throne to marry a mortal. Before she dies, she manages to perform a resurrection spell and appoint a Guardian in charge of finding her new incarnation, for which she has a limit of 100 years.
Apparently, Zoe Vaughn, a college student, is the incarnation of Melantha, but she and Baxter, her Guardian, have just one month to find the 5 pieces that make up the royal pendant and claim her Kingdom. Otherwise, Zoe, Baxter and all the merfolk of the Pacific are doomed to die.
Pacific Tails is a novel aimed at new adults, quick and easy to read and very entertaining. It has an appropriate ending, taking into account that it is the first book in a duology that will immerse the reader in a reading full of action, myths and romance. It is worth reading and I hope to read the next book very soon. I already want to know the end of this story!
I thank the author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
The opinion I have expressed above is based solely on what I think and feel about this book.

Mermaids are, without a shadow of a doubt, my favourite fantasy creature to read about, I immediately find myself scanning shelves for the latest mermaid tales and so I was thrilled to receive an arc for Michelle Sauer’s Pacific Tails!

What I loved most about this book was, firstly, the unique premise of our female protagonist, Zoe Vaughn, being the reincarnation of the murdered Mermaid Queen of the Pacific Ocean, Melantha. It was such an interesting concept (as I am always a sucker for reincarnation stories and the mystery behind them) and completely different to other mermaid novels currently out on the market.

Also, the world-building in this novel was absolutely exquisite—I could imagine every single object, place and person described in this novel and that’s what I love as a reader. Part of what makes a novel enjoyable (and quite frankly readable) is the author’s ability to easily bring their world to life in the reader’s mind. Michelle Sauer clearly kept this at the forefront of her mind when creating this wonderful novel, I felt like I was travelling along with the characters.

However, there were some things that I wish could have been changed or removed entirely. Whilst I always try my best to overlook minor character flaws, I did find Zoe a little too naïve and overly trusting for a main character who has recently been betrayed and has lingering trust issues. She also did step out of line multiple times when it came to Baxter, even going as far as to dictate his friendships out of insecurity and pure jealousy. Additionally, the romance between Zoe and Baxter did, at times, feel very forced and rushed as if the author was trying to quicken the intensity of the romance or skip to ‘the good parts’, as it were.

There were also moments within the book, without spoiling anything, that I felt took away from the story or interrupted important moments for the characters and sometimes the characters themselves and their actions could be described as predictable. Nonetheless, I did still find this book very enjoyable as the creativity with the world-building and the overall feel of the book.

Note—I was provided with an ARC of this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Pacific Tails will be published on the 23rd October and is the first instalment in a planned duology so make sure to go and pre-order / buy it as soon as you can, you will not regret it!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book in a duology series by Michelle Sauer and follows the life of Zoe who is a talented swimmer who wants to move due to being bullied but before she is due to move she is told a secret by one of her teachers Professor Baxter, who says she is actually a reincarnation of the mermaid queen of the Pacific Ocean, and to enable her to regain this title she needs to embark on an adventure to find 5 stones but she only has a month left to complete this mission.

I thought this was a great book, full of suspense and adventure and felt I read it quite quickly. I am definitely looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book.

a day late but, this shit was amazing, my first mermaid fantasy book but I absolutely loved it, plus the student x teacher rly had me like aaaa I love it, I just knew aisling was a bitch I hate her, love Lil tho

thank you netgalley for the arc

Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the chance to read Pacific tails by Michelle Sauer. I have always loved stories with mermaids and other paranormal creatures. This is a debut novel from the author and is the first book of a planned duology. I enjoyed the fast paced story, with twists and turns, and a slow-burning romance. I did find the middle of the book, a bit muddled but I was able to read through. This is listed as a New Adult book, but I felt it was more Young Adult instead. I am looking forward to reading the 2nd book.

I might be biased because I'm a swimmer who has always dreamed of being a mermaid but I enjoyed this story. It was strange because it felt too long but also some things weren't thoroughly discussed? Felt like I wanted to dig deeper. However, I haven't read a book like this before and overall, I really liked the story, characters and the mermaid powers.

3.5 stars rounding up.

I need a second part because this book leaves you wanting more. Wanting more Tails, more action, more magic, more pages to lose yourself in for hours.
This is the first story I read in wich the main caracters are mermaids, and it's an amazing first time.I thought the magic system was great, and that's because of its simplicity: the colour of the tail determines the magic the mermaid possesses. Added to this is the appearance of other supernatural beings such as werewolves, demons, or witches, who don't steal the spotlight from our Tails. But the icing on the cake is the amount of legends and folklore montioned in this book. That's a 100/10.
The plot has also obsessed me. We have a murdered mermaid queen who is reincarnated as a young girl, a man become the guardian of this reincarnated queen who must help her restore her magic and her kingdom in less than a hundred years or both will die, deceptions, treasons, and a great unknown. Who, and why, murdered the queen? If this doesn't convince you to read this book, the prologue sure it gets.
Zoe and Baxter are incredible characters, who make mistakes and repair them, with firm convictions, and ready to do anything to protect those who they love. They felt very real, and I enjoyed accompaning them throughout their adventure across the seas.
I wish I had more time to read because I didn't want to stop, although I had to, and that has taken me so long to finish it. But it was worth it, and I need more people to read it so I can discuss it with someone.

I enjoyed this novel. It was definitely filled with action, and I liked how the story flowed together and your able to keep up with all the characters that were tied into this storyline. Definitely a great read and I enjoyed it.

Mermaid story, first in a planned duology, this book was nothing particularly crazy but I really enjoyed it! Sometimes you just want something that is an escape into a different world, and this one was absolutely that. The main characters were interesting, and were well developed throughout the story.

There are definitely some unanswered plot points I will, be interested to learn whether they are answered in the next book, but this is one I would read again.

This story was really good and I loved the character build, the variety of mermaids introduced and the image of the underwater realm that was built into my mind as I read along. Assuming there is to be another book in the future and very much look forward to it and learning more about the mermaid queen as she comes back into power and her relationships.

Thank you to Michelle Sauer and NetGalley for giving me an e-copy of this book.

"An unsolved murder of a mermaid queen. A shattered stone pendant cursed and lost. A kingdom's existence in peril.
All of it, dependent on a college student and gifted swimmer, Zoe Vaughn, who thinks her life is falling apart.
Jealous teammates have accused Zoe of using performance enhancing drugs, sinking her dreams of competing in the Olympics. Now, as their relentless bullying continues, she's ready to uproot her life in California and move across the country.
But hours before Zoe's flight, something happens that changes those plans forever. Sparks literally fly between her and Baxter, her mythology professor, who confronts Zoe with the truth that her incredible talent beneath the water has a supernatural explanation.
Baxter declares that Zoe is the living reincarnation of Melantha - Mermaid Queen of the Pacific Ocean - who was betrayed and murdered nearly a century earlier. He also claims to be Melantha's guardian - an immortal tasked with reuniting five sacred stones that can restore Zoe as the rightful queen before her kingdom is lost forever.
But the time to do that is running out, as there are sinister forces who'll stop at nothing to prevent the Mermaid Queen's return. With her life on the line, Zoe must work with Baxter to find all five stones scattered between land and sea and fulfill her destiny - or condemn her mermaid kin to enslavement for all eternity.
Pacific Tails is a new adult, fast-paced urban fantasy adventure that is set in a world where myths intertwine with reality. Ride the wave of a thrilling mystery and quest-based novel, filled with mermaids and other unexpected creatures such as immortals, ghosts, demons, and werewolves."

I love this book, I can't get to the next one. This was so easy to read and I was hooked from the first chapter. It is very captivating.

CAWPILE score 8.00

I haven't read a fantasy book with mermaids for a very long time, so it was quite refreshing. It has mystery, murder, some spice, magical powers (I liked the magic system).
All in all, a nice story and an easy read if you want something new.
The relationship between the FMC and the MMC felt a bit weird to me, and the epilogue kinda rushes it too much for my liking.

A fast paced mystery about Zoe who is believed to be an ancient mermaid queen. Good mystery. Some characters need a little more development but overall an enjoyable read. Thanks #Netgalley and #Booksgosocial for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

A mermaid “tail” *snickers in pun*, that gives you mystery and murder with a slow burn romance.

The story is one that builds upon itself and the TENSION.

I cannot wait to see how the author grows this story and provides more. It’s a classic introduction into the genre/series book which tells me that the second part of the duology will have all of the information/depth that seems to be missing.

I've been looking for a decent mermaid book recently, so have read anything I can find. While this one is not written for a YA audience, it definitely reads more like a YA book. It took me a while to get into it but the ending was satisfying. Overall, this was a good read albeit a little younger than what I was expecting.

This was a NetGalley review.

4.25 stars
This was such a fun read! I really enjoyed the bits of history that the story kept and the bits that were altered were so interesting. The idea of reincarnation is so interesting and I loved how the book kind of adapted that and put twists into it with magic. Pacific Tails centers around the previous mermaid queen, her murder, her reincarnation as Zoe and the quest for her and her guardian (who happens to be her love interest) to save her dying kingdom. I felt this story had so many aspects that it delved into that made it such a fun and entertaining experience. I personally love reading about mermaids because there are so many twists/legends/myths that can be adopted to a story to make it so unique. Sauer did an amazing job at creating a backstory for the different mermaids (who are referred to as tails), their abilities, the different kingdoms and the impact that the global warming and waste is having on the ecosystem.
Where I found that the story might have fallen a bit short was in the romance aspect, it didn't feel forced per say but I felt that anytime that Zoe and Baxter had an argument, it was blown out of proportions by Zoe, like she made the issues into a much bigger deal than it had to be. Overall this was such a fun read and I'm really looking forward to seeing where Sauer takes this world.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending this ARC to me for a

I missed this kind of story, it kind of reminded me of the old school Paranormal Romance/Urban Fantasy books, which I missed, especially in this age when every Romantasy is filled with royals, intrigue and enemies to lovers plots.

The tone is lighter, the world building interesting but not that intense as to make your head hurt. And it has a fast paced, modern feel to it. Considering I am obsessed with anything sea world and mermaids related, I ate this up! The history of the underwater world and kingdoms, the different gods and magic systems, the prophecy, the found family, it all made for such a well balanced story. And there is the slow burn Romance, which has a fated mates but forbidden feel to it. Every time Zoe and Baxter get closer, some cataclysm happens. The academic setting makes for all the information and worldbuilding to fall naturally into the story. It's not info dump if he is a professor and she is only now learning about the world she came from and what she represents for the ocean, right?

I will admit I didn't connect to the main character, Zoe, as much as I would have hoped, and I kept feeling like something was missing on the personal/relationship front. But a quick, enjoyable read nonetheless. My favorite partwas when she was swimming in the depths of the ocean, meeting merfolk and other creatures and the way the color of the mermaid tails represented their power and title. So fun!

Thank you for the ARC