Customer Reviews

The Last Mermaid

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An avid reader of historical romances and fantasy romances,
I found this book to be totally enchanting!!!! Once I started it, I couldn't escape the mermaids' lure. This was the first book of Shana Abe`'s that I had read, but she held me
spellbound. After having read so many books of this kind, I can pretty much tell you what the story will be about after the first chapter...not so with this one!!! When I completed the novel...I felt sad that it was over. I thought about the story for weeks after reading it. I went to the bookstore to get more of her books...but they didn't have any! I couldn't believe they didn't know what an amazing find this writer is and I told them so!
The legend's beginning and its end...throughout time...
the timelessness...
If you miss this one...you really missed out! I'm not going to describe the plot..since that has already been done. But I could see this one in my head ...feel it..magical but almost real. WOW! Shana Abe` has moved to the top of my favorite authors list!

This is an amazing tale set in three separate time periods and linked together by the prologue that explains the myth and how the curse came to be as the original mermaid of Kell lost her one true love and how her descendants all fought and found their way to discovering their destinies and true love.

531 a.d. --- The Picts ambushed Aedan, a Prince of the Isles who would one day be King. Mortally wounded he was then shipped out to the middle of the ocean near the mysterious island of Kell, dumped overboard and believed to have drowned. Actually, he did drown, but through the enchanted ministrations of the siren Iona, who lived on the enchanted island of Kell, Aedan was restored back to life. Love blossoms with exquisite sensuality between the two, yet Aedan felt impelled to build a vessel to return to his home and save his people knowing that he would be leaving a part of his soul behind with Iona. Deliberating over the knowledge that a slow death would occur should she leave the island of Kell, Iona follows Aedan to inform him that she would be having his child only to find that once again, Aedan was betrayed, a prisoner in his own castle and near death. Risking her own life by leaving the magical waters of Kell, Ione would save Aedan once again, but could she survive herself? - Thrilling, with intense action and sensuality.

1721: Ronan MacMhuirich, Earl of Kell, mysterious and beloved laird of his clan is the target of an unlikely assassin. Rarely appearing in the London social circles he and his clansmen traveled to the city to try and discover who was attempting to kill him. Searching for an assassin he discovered instead a mysterious and beautiful woman from an exotic land. Leila, not only a skilled assassin, but also gifted with 'sight' that could prove to be much more dangerous to Ronan than any assassins weapon. Irresistibly drawn to one another, the beautiful would-be slayer and Ronan (a male siren) would discover a magic more powerful than either of their gifts - the magic of love found only by true soul mates. - Very ORIGINAL, passionate and sultry!

2004: Ruri Kell, is still dealing with the unexpected death of her parents when several things happen. First she receives a very old silver locket; discovers she has inherited an island no one knew existed; and a devastatingly handsome Scot, Dr. Iain MacInnes, has arrived at her door offering her an astronomical amount of money to buy the island. The one condition of the sale is that she must travel to the island (she who is deathly afraid of water) and 'see' it first before selling. Unknown to Ruri was that she was the last descendant of the Kell's, and knew nothing of her father's family history. Iain had been waiting several lifetimes for her and for himself too and would only be free to love when she could 'remember' who and what she really was.

All three stories/books were very original, sensual and passionate love stories, my favorites being Aedan and Ronan's stories. Ms. Abe is a favorite author of mine and it has been a long time between books. I am delighted to say this was well worth the wait and I heartily recommend this for lovers of this fantasy genre as an enjoyable and very original read. --- Marilyn Rondeau, Official Reviewer for www.historicromancewriters.com ---

The first book that I read (by Shana Abe) was The Smoke Thief, which I thoroughly enjoyed and loved every minute of reading it.

The next is The Last Mermaid. The Prologue set the tone of the entire story.
Book one- The plot line of betrayal, unmasking of the traitor and the bitter sweet ending is great!
Book two - Another twist in the story which is totally different. Imagine a female assassin! Fantastic idea.........
Book Three - This is where I think the story is weak and confusing. The Prologue gave us the story that the siren saved Kell from a watery grave. They lived a happy life until Kell had second thoughts. He pulled the locket from the siren's neck, opened it and he died.
How is it then that in chapter 17 (page 571 of mass produced book) Iain stated "there, out there, I saved you, and you gave me your vow". There was also a statement about the locket -"Because, Ruriko, it carries your soul". And then on page 572 it read " Her hand, tearing the locket from a white throat. Opening it, and hearing a voice-dulcet, ravaged- cry out. Darkness falling up to meet her".
There seem to be a mix up somewhere along the line.
I would love to know how this could have happened.

Regardless of this mistake, I will still be reading her books especially the Drakon series.....

This is the first book from Shana Abe i've read and i'm happy. i love the heat and the way she describes things. My favourite story is the first one. I love Ione.
The third one is emotional. when she says, i can't stay! i have family. friends! a job! and he says..
it was emotional.
The second one is lustful. though, i have to admit, leila's smart but i would not put her as a assain. she has to find out if the person she's killing is good or bad..it's a nice quirk of personaility but too much trouble.
This is a really good book..but of course, this is my first book from shana abe so i wouldn't know..but hey, even if you hate this book, you have to admire the colours of the cover. ;)

In 531 on the island Kelmere of the Kingdom of Isles, Picts ambush the royal party as they near their keep. Prince Aedan, heir to the High King throne, is stabbed trying to save his younger sister. When Aedan next awakens he finds himself battered in a strange bed and room. He meets his hostess Ione who brought him from the sea to her island, something she has never done before. Aedan realizes he is on Kell, the legendary forbidden island. Ione explains that they are the only living souls on the isle and that she is the Siren of Kell.

Ione proves she is a mermaid by taking him to the sea before they make love. Though he wants to stay with her, Aedan builds a vessel because he needs to go home to help his people. She says she will die if he leaves Kell, but he insists curse or not he must do the right thing. However, the betrayal he finds at home will surely devastate him almost as much as leaving behind the female he loves.

The key to this delightful historical romantic fantasy is that the lead couple seems genuine, critical for the siren-mermaid to come across as a real person that blends nicely into the Dark Ages in the Scottish Isles. The story line is fun to follow regardless of the isle that the action occurs on. Fans will appreciate this charming adult version of the Little Mermaid and readers would like to see more stories set in this realm.

Harriet Klausner