Of Triton by Anna Banks

Of Triton by Anna Banks

ARC received  from Macmillan

On Shelves Now

Reviewed by:  Middle Sis Jenn

The Sisters Say:  Good story, but kind of a let down after the first book

In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

I was so excited to read Of Triton because I was completely blown away by Of Poseidon.  I was so blown away that I did a special Top Ten review of it!  Sadly, this sequel did not live up to my expectations.  That doesn’t mean it was bad, I actually enjoyed it.  However, the things that were so good in Of Poseidon were missing if Of Triton.

I’ll start with what I liked:  the plot.  Anna started the story up right where the last book left off, and there was little time for boredom.  The pacing was well done, and I never felt like I needed to put the book down to get some distance, even when I was disappointed in parts.  I do wish the book would have been a little longer, spending more time in the ocean because I love seeing beneath the surface! 

The thing I really missed the most was the humor.  In Of Poseidon, I found myself laughing out loud over and over again.  Emma’s voice was much more flat in the sequel, and I felt like we just didn’t see her originality flow from the dialogue.  Furthermore, I didn’t see the humor from Toraf, either, and he was one of my favorite characters from the first book.  I’m hoping we see the humor come back in the final book.

I also missed the romance aspect.  It was there, but it just wasn’t prevalent like it was in the first book.  There was always something in the way, and I wanted Emma and Galen just to say “Screw it,” to the world and let go in an amazing kiss.  But that never happened.  The romance was a kiss here, a hug there; but there was no immediacy to it—no passion.

The final thing that bugged me was the switch from Emma’s first person to Galen’s third person—drove me nuts!!!!!  It might be because I was an English teacher, but I just couldn’t get past the fact that we could see inside Emma’s thoughts, but not Galen’s.  I think it needed to be first person from both of them or third person from both.  I just felt disconnected from Galen.

Overall, it was a good storyline, and I’m happy with the progression of the gifts and the tension.  It just fell flat in the little details that made the first book so unique and impressive.