3 out of 5 stars
I would like to thank the author Erin Johnson for gifting me with a free electronic copy of this book. She has done after hearing that I enjoyed the first book in this series, and I can assure you this is still my own open and honest opinion and not something I’ve been paid (or bartered a book) to say.
Okay, ‘Mermaid Fins, Winds & Rolling Pins’ is the third book in Ms Johnson’s ‘Spells & Caramels’ series. And, although still enjoyable, it wasn’t my favourite in the series (and I’m now up to book 8!)
Don’t get me wrong, I still found it an
enjoyable book and definitely an important part of the series (as we learn more
about Imogen, what she can do and what she and Hank can do together *insert
leery wink here*) 😉
But I just don’t think I enjoyed the setting that much. Quite frankly the
mermaids annoyed the heck out of me and I found a lot of the “underwater magic”
implausible, even for magic. Weird I KNOW!
Yup, it got too close to my dislike to the “we can do anything with magic” that irritates me in Harry Potter. And I really am NOT a fan of “we can do anything” style of magic. I much prefer the weights and balances, cause and effect type that is usually used in the ‘Spells & Caramels’ series. This book pushed the boundaries of my enjoyment when it comes to magic… made it a little too Disney, too childish. Practical magic is more believable to me.
Oh and I GET why the mermaids were such uneducated airheads… it was to help dispel the myth over them being these wonderful, beautiful, flawless, mythical creatures. It reminded me of the saying attributed to Lincoln about it being better to remain silent and thought a fool, rather than open ones mouth and remove all doubt. THAT is what I thought of with the mermaids… and that part of it was well done. Nothing like adding some grating realism to prove they’re not all that flawless after all. It was just…. They WERE grating and got annoying. Oh, how picky am I? 😀
Other than these minor issues (which is more my fault than Ms Johnson’s) I felt it an okay read. The same regular cast of characters were present, we got to know them all a little more and the series progressed well, including an amazing show of friendship and love along the way.
So what if it wasn’t my favourite… it didn’t ruin my enjoyment of the book OR the series. It… was just not my favourite. These things happen, it’s not the end of the world and I will say this book had me wonder if there should be some type of AA meeting just for pirates, mermaids and those who hang out with them a lot. 😉
Book nerd side of things – ‘Mermaid Fins, Winds & Rolling Pins’ was perfectly formatted for Kindle, no major copy editing flaws and all in all well done.
Would I recommend this book to others?
Yes I would, but only really to those who have read the first two books in the ‘Spells & Caramels’ series. As, if you just jump in and read this one on its own you’re doing yourself a serious disservice. And you are insulting Ms Johnson. Read the first two books first – they are reasonably priced, well worth it and you can just thank me later.
Would I buy this book for myself?
If it hadn’t been sent to me as a gift, I think I would have. I mean, I was sent the first five books in this series by Ms Johnson and I’ve been buying the rest of them myself ever since… So I feel I can honestly say that yes I would have bought it if needed. This is me – putting my money where my mouth is!
In summary: Not my favourite in this series, but still a good read and fabulous series.
Until next time,
Janis.
Janis's Journal 