Review: Ocean So Wide by Nichole Giles

Title: Ocean So Wide

Author: Nichole Giles

Series: Water So Deep #2

Genre: YA/Fantasy/Romance

Publisher: Jelly Bean Press

Publication Date: September 5th, 2017

Edition: Kindle Edition, 265 pages

Source: Purchased

Purchase/Pre-Order: Amazon US | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | BAM

Synopsis:

Recently forced into the underwater city of Atlantis, Emma Harris has managed to avoid marrying the merman who brought her, but her grandfather—the Sea King—insists that joining with the abusive Merrick is inevitable. When Emma discovers a poison that might restore her human lungs, she goes in search of the rare creature that carries it, prepared to try the poison no matter the cost, so she can return home to her family—and to James. 

Since his girlfriend went missing, James’ depression has destroyed his chance at a basketball scholarship and incurred the wrath of his uncle, who was once his strongest supporter. When the police inform him that he’s a suspect in Emma’s mysterious disappearance, James sells his beloved motorcycle to buy a boat so he can find Emma and prove his innocence before going on trial for a murder he didn’t commit. 

With destiny against them, it’s only a matter of time before both are imprisoned forever.

I read the first book three years ago, it was one of the first books I got from NetGalley, and I loved it. The myths of Mermaids have always fascinated me, and that book delivered a very interesting new take on the myths.

This book picks up just after the events of the first, and while I don't remember everything I remember enough that getting back into this world was easy. 

I really enjoyed this book, the suspense of how Emma was going to get back to James and her family and how James was going to prove his innocence kept me on the edge of my seat and tempting me to read ahead to see how the book was going to end. (I resisted... mostly)

While the book was very engaging, there were some dull parts that I felt made the book drag from time to time. It was mostly Emma's chapters that did this for me too, for some reason her chapters weren't as interesting for most of the book for me.

There were also some unanswered things that I hope get addressed if there's going to be another book, at the end of this there was a hint of another book Sea so Blue "coming soon" I just hope it's not another three years. But, did Heather ever apologize? Did Emma find out that her best friend tried to set James up as a murderer?  

The prospect of a third book feels both needed, and excessive. I don't know what a third book would be about, the two that are out, make sense. The first book was about Emma turning into a mermaid, and this was about her return to land. I don't know what's left to tell. But I will be interested to read it when it comes out regardless.