09 March 2018

Emily Windsnap and the Falls of Forgotten Island by Liz Kessler, 2018

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While on vacation, Emily Windsnap finds herself swept up in an ancient prophecy as the New York Times best-selling series continues.

Emily is headed to a tropical island for a relaxing vacation with friends and family. And this time, Emily promises her best friend, Shona, there will be absolutely no adventure — just plenty of fun. But somehow excitement always seems to find Emily, and before she knows it, she ends up on the other side of a powerful waterfall on a forgotten island no one else can get to. Well, no one that isn't a half-mer like Emily and her boyfriend, Aaron. The people who live on the island believe in a prophecy that foretells how they can be saved from an imminent, devastating earthquake — and this prophecy seems to revolve around Emily and Aaron, as well as a mysterious, mythic giant. Will they be able to find the giant — and fulfill the prophecy — before it's too late?

(320 pages)

I read the original The Tail of Emily Windsnap novel many, many years ago–back when I was actually in its target audience. It honestly read like a standalone, so I was a little nonplussed when a sequel came out, but I went ahead and read and enjoyed it. The story yet again seemed finished, which I was okay with, but then a few years later another book came out. Then another. And another. And another. And now this one. If you haven't been keeping count, that means Falls of Forgotten Island is the seventh book in a series while always seems to be wrapped up and finished at the end of every new installment.

The thing is, though, the reason Kessler can get away with writing so many of these books is that they really are enjoyable reads–especially for a certain demographic of readers, largely made up of tweenage girls. There's always something very appealing about the story of an ordinary girl who can secretly turn into a mermaid and live a whole nother life beneath the waves. Add in the romance plotline which has sprung up in the later books, with Emily's boyfriend Aaron, and it's sure to be a hit with kids who have always secretly wanted Emily's life.

As for me, I have to say that I'm getting rather sick of the Emily Windsnap books by this point. The drama seems rather contrived in this one, with Emily seeming to get into fights with everyone for reasons that are not entirely in her control. Shona get really mad at her for stumbling into yet another dangerous problem in need of a hero to save the day. It's hard to sympathize with her anger, or her desire to basically just leave the island to be destroyed.

At the same time, I do agree with Shona that it's getting kind of ridiculous how many times Emily has stumbled into a deadly scenario that only she (plus Aaron sometimes) can prevent. The premise may be getting rather old, but there's certainly nothing wrong with it. I don't plan on re-reading Falls of Forgotten Island anytime soon,  but I won't warn anyone away from it either. If you're a fan of the Emily Windsnap series, let us know in the comments what you think of this latest instalment!

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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