Mers

By Ami Blackwelder

What lies beneath the surface?
One hundred years from now the world has changed and brought with it new forms of life.
Who are the Mers? Who is Mira?

“I am not a Mer...” A simple but profound statement that changes Mira’s life forever. She always knew she was different. She never quite fit in with the Mers. However, when her quest to understand her past leads her across the border that divides two vastly different worlds, she thinks the journey to find out who she really is will be an easy one.

But, in Jersey she finds more questions than answers. The “Garden State” has become a convoluted mix of Aristocrats who hate the Mers, Pirates who want to sell them, and Magi who want to use them, finding her true identity will be a challenge, especially when her traveling companion is a Mer willing to fight to the death.
***

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ami Blackwelder
• Release date: Jan 16, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310099557

Ami Blackwelder

Ami Blackwelder writes paranormal things that go bumps in the night: Zombies, Vampires, Mermaids, Elves, Angels, Shifters, books like: Hunted, Forever Elf, She Speaks to Angels, Mers, Decayed World, and Zombie LaLaRebecca May is her pen name for Historical and Contemporary Romances like: THE DAY THE FLOWERS DIEDMia Black is her pen name for Dystopian Thrillers with a focus on ROBOTS, FUTURE TECHNOLOGY, WILDLIFE, and NATURE: Electric Gardens, Exotiqa, Quantum State, Simulation, Animal Graph, Drone Games, The Instrument (coming)"I'm extremely impressed with the quality of your writing and the range of your storytelling. Feel free to send script when you're done.”-John McLaughlin (One of the screen writers for Black Swan, and Great Gasby)Forever Efl -"I must say I could not put them down. I read the first book in one night; I know my students would love to hear more about your books.”-Charla VandeBerg (Raymond B. Stewart Middle School in Zephyrhills)Shifters -"This is a fast-moving story, never a dull moment. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of it.” -Imogen Rose (Author of Portal Chronicles)Hunted- ‘This is a very well structured piece of writing. I very much like how you create the opening atmosphere using a good range of strong sensory descriptions. Very powerful! Also what is very good is the suspense you build by what you don’t tell. this sets up the storyline so very well. You build a very credible character in April. Great narrative, great dialogue, great book!’ -FamlavanHunted- ‘The pitch is great and the writing solid. The imagery is touchable with fluid narrative. The secret is well revealed and I liked the fact it came as a surprise to the character too. You can almost feel there is another world shivering in the background waiting to pounce.’ -Owen QuinnHunted- ‘Wow. This is a good story. I like the way you hint in chapter one that something big is wrong with April but then take your time revealing that - makes this a suspenseful read. It also makes April a sympathetic character, because she's as in the dark as much as your reader in the beginning. Well done.’ -Burgio

Book preview

On the abandoned shores of what was once Ellis Island, Mira watched the pink horizon blend with the subtle tones of grey and muted purples until the broken sky became an endless abyss of blackness and countless stars. Only the faint tip of the Statue of Liberty’s torch stuck out of the brazen waters, a reminder of what once had been New York.

Mira only knew of a few livable places still in existence, such as the states of New York and New Jersey. Certainly the Rocky Mountains and Mt. Everest survived. She had heard rumors there were bits of land in what would have been Africa, Europe, and Asia, but she had never traveled outside of North America to know for sure. Besides, she would miss Nerin too much if she ever left, and she had everything she would ever need right here, right now. Didn’t she?

Mira felt webbed fingers slide over her left shoulder, as Nerin plopped next to her on the rock overlooking the sea. He placed a dove into her open palm; one of his many leaf origami designs.

For you. For peace...and for overcoming fear. Mira watched his glowing eyes as he took a deep breath, enjoying the smell of the salty sea. He could have any Mer on the island, and yet, he kept hanging out with her.

Thanks, Mira blushed.

I knew I’d find you here. Nerin glanced in her direction, his eyes bright. You know me well, I guess. Mira blushed again, her freckled cheeks reddening as she tilted her head toward him.

She shivered in the cool breeze and brought her legs up and hugged them with arms covered in a maroon sweater. Nerin, softly combed his webbed fingers through her beautiful, cherry-red hair, as if enchanted by it.

What is it about this spot? Nerin raised a dark brow above his yellow eyes, untangling his hand from her hair.

I don’t know, she shrugged. I feel on the brink of discovery here....like there is something more beyond the horizon.

Yes, more ocean, he chuckled; the crooked corner of his lips rising as he laughed.

Don’t poke fun. Mira nudged him with a hard elbow. Besides, this place is important to your...you, too. She almost said,

Your kind, too, but remembered she didn’t want to make that distinction, yet. If the others noticed her differences, as she did, no one said anything out loud.

Yes. Nerin rolled his head back in thought; his shining, yellow eyes matched the stars’ radiance in the darkened purple sky. Mira never got over the fact that his eyes―everyone’s eyes—glowed yellow. Why didn’t hers? There’s a lot of history here, Nerin continued. It’s not called Liberty Shore for nothing. My parents told me this is the one place where Mers can live freely.

Mira sighed, the mention of the word Mers always brought her tears close to the surface. It sounded as if they somehow did not belong to the human race, as if their unique features existed only to remind the human world of the abominations of God. Why were there such distinctions? After all, the Mers didn’t cause the flood.

Have you ever even seen the outside world? The sleeve of her sweater fell from her shoulder. She fixed it, and then met Nerin’s gaze with her grey-blue eyes. She stared into his glowing eyes, as if trying to read his soul.

The out...side world? The words caught in his throat. He had been to the border where Ellis Island met Jersey, but no further. Uh...no, not really. Why? You plan on going? His expression cast a shadow of dread over her.

I...don’t know, she shrugged, pretending she hadn’t thought about it or planned it over and over again in her mind. How she would sneak off in the middle of the night and peek, only peek, over the border and, if no one was around, how she would hightail it into the forbidden city. Sure, she might get dirty and acquire a few scrapes, and maybe even have a few hungry and homeless nights, but the answers she sought could not be found on Liberty Island...

Mira, we have been friends for ten years, I see the longing in your eyes. You can’t hide it from me. And she couldn’t.

They had been best friends since they were seven. Nerin had surprised her as she stood by the water, the tide lapping over her bare toes. Fiddling with her damp dress, she had splashed up water with each wave. Giggles were puffing her cheeks, and her cherry-red hair was billowing out behind her.

Her attention had been focused on the salty sea, as he tiptoed behind her. When Nerin had reached her, he tapped her on the shoulder and causing her to spin around to greet him for the first time face-to-face. Puckering his lips, he had waited for a kiss. He had balanced on his toes, teetering as he leaned forward.

Instead, Mira had slapped him across the cheek, her cheeks turning blood-red while Nerin’s face blushed pink. Her face was furious, as if she was warding off enemies, she watched as he had stumbled backward in surprise…

That was ten years ago, now, they sat in companionable silence, each guarding their secrets…

I don’t want to talk about this, Mira told her friend. How could she explain to him her longing to know who she was… what she was… All he would see was that she wanted to break Mer law and jump ship? Well, not a ship, exactly; jump island? Break human law? No Mer wanted to feel the wrath of the Aristo City Hall.

Dusting her hands against her faded patchwork skirt she played with a hole that had formed over her knee, hoping to avoid another conversation about the outside world. But Nerin turned his whole body toward her, his hand tightly gripping her forearm.

You don’t want to go outside. Mira shuddered as his voice rose, and he squished his face. She hated to be the cause of the distress in his shimmering yellow eyes as he scanned her delicate facial features.

You don’t know what I want! Mira yanked her arm away and stood with a huff.

I do. I see the longing in your eyes. You want to cross into forbidden land! Mira couldn’t hide from the disgust in his voice. And risk all our lives!

I...I... She couldn’t think of anything to convince him of her reasoning. Mers were taught all their lives that crossing into human land was punishable, that it would draw danger to them. He would never understand.

She saw Nerin’s shocked expression, and then she knew she could say no more. Instantly, she was remorseful. I’m sorry; I don’t know what I’m saying. She extended her hand to him, and he slapped his palm against hers and pulled himself up. His anger had diminished at her touch, and the mini-feud was forgiven. He could never stay mad at Mira for long.

Turning from the shore, where the ocean touched some of the scarce and coveted land, Mira and Nerin walked hand in hand, not because they were boyfriend and girlfriend, though both had thought about it more than once, but because in the Mer tradition that permeated Ellis Island-Liberty Shore; friends always walked that way.

Liberty Shore, as the Mers called it, had been Mira’s home for as long as she could remember. The area covered Ellis Island and part of New York. But lately, she had been having memories of a different life, the kind of life where humans took care of her. Not surprising, after all; she didn’t look like a Mer. She didn’t have webbed feet or webbing between her thighs. She could wear pants! She didn’t have gills beneath her lungs. Heck, she couldn’t even swim that well!

She had known for many, many years that she wasn’t like them, but she would never mention her concerns to her father or mother. After all, she wouldn’t want to break their hearts. They had raised her and told her, despite what she looked like on the outside, she was a Mer in her heart, and that was all that mattered.

Fearful of her parent’s disapproval, she and Nerin hurried home, scurrying around a few ponds and leaping over puddles like frogs, they raced across the sporadic spots of soil. They ran as they had when they were children, racing through the neighborhood after school, only slowing as they approached her home. Mira always had the advantage on land, since Nerin’s webbed feet were more suited for swimming.

You look nice, Mira pointed at the wavy movements of his kilt.

Thanks? Nerin commented unsure, tugging at his inner legs, catching the webbing of his thighs, which extended from his upper inner leg to several inches above the knee. Pants, with their inner seams, would not fit Mers.

You look nice too. Nerin hadn’t heard Mira compliment him on his looks before and he blushed.

They approached a minuscule, three-roomed shack made of wood hung high on thick stilts, consisting of a litch — what humans would call a combined living/kitchen area — and two sleepers — or bedrooms. It was more of a small barge on stilts, the salt water puddling underneath, a reminder of the Great Deluge. Mers didn’t need homes as much their counterparts did. They spent most of their time in the ocean. When they spent too many days out of water, their skin began to shrivel and dry; like a snake shedding layers of skin… The sight was not pretty.

As bedtime approached, Mira rushed up the cracked wooden steps and swung the door open. Nerin waved good-bye after her retreating form and leapt off the steps into the puddles draining from underneath her home.

Entering her home, Mira’s eyes swept over the primitive furniture, made mostly of wood. The floods destroyed the factories, leaving little capability to produce anything without wood. But what Mers lacked in material, they made up for in artistry. Hand-carved flowers and geometric shapes decorated most pieces.

Mira’s father and mother, Zale and Marina, sat in the litch, pacing near a set of wooden rocking chairs that stood on either side of the table. When they finally sat in the rocking chairs, each moved back and forth, making the hand-carved tulips on the arms appear to blow in the wind. Mira hoped they wouldn’t notice she was late… again. Unfortunately, her father’s watchful gaze as she strolled inside, confirmed her fears...

What? Mira’s guilt gave her away, and she threw her arms up, fingers fanned.

You know I expect you home before dark, Zale answered. No telling what kind of dangers you might run into out there. Crossing his arms over his chest, he stood, a strong man with muscles carved from years of hard, outside labor. No stubble grew over his pointy chin, as Mers didn’t have body hair over their soft, luminescent skin. Like most Mers, he remained shoeless. They preferred to travel over land on webbed feet, the thick layers of extra skin providing comfort like a shoe.

I... She didn’t want to fight, but she had to stand her ground. After all, she was notorious on Liberty Shore for her outspoken personality. I wanted to see the sunset on shore. Is that so wrong? She innocently batted her long lashes, a habit she couldn’t help. Because she was the only one in Liberty Shore with long lashes, legs, and real toes and fingers, the Mers thought of her as an angel. The young Mers anyway; the older Mers knew better. They’d seen war between humans and their kind. They remembered how fiendish humans could be.

Mira, herself, no longer lived in the bubble of ignorance shared by Mer children, only warned to come home before dark under vague explanations of Because I told you so or It’s dangerous. Mer parents did not talk about the real reasons, until kids turned seventeen and were taught the brutal history of Liberty Shore.

Yes, it’s wrong when you know good and well that we expect you back before dark. I would think school would have scared you straight.

I... What could she say? I’m not a Mer? She didn’t want to bring that up yet. I’m sorry. I won’t stay out late again. But both she and her parents knew she would. Something on the edge of the horizon, between Liberty Shore and Jersey, beckoned to her, a taunting ghost calling to her night and day. Too many unanswered questions left her restless.

She quickly fell asleep after she flopped on her small, quilted cot. It was not very large, not a king-sized or queen-sized bed, but more of a twin-sized bed. And all hers. How could she complain; no Mer slept in anything larger than two yards of space. Space was an expensive commodity with land so scarce.

Somewhere in the middle of her dreams, she awoke. A who-who sprung from the beak of the owl perched on the lone, naked tree outside her stained window. It was midnight, and a sliver of moon reflected silver light over the tree like the delicate veil of a wedding dress. Mira couldn’t take her eyes off the large brown owl, his feathers glinting in the moonlight. Each sound he made posed a question to her. Who-who, the owl sang again, and she flung her legs off the cot with a huff and pressed her nose to the window. Who-who.

What?

Who-who.

Yes, she sighed, I want to know w-h-o I am, too. At the sound of her voice, the owl flew away and disappeared into the black abyss of sky.

Late

Early weekend morning, Mira heard a knock at the door. Throwing on her skirt and a white T-shirt, she rushed past her mother, who was close enough to lay her hand over the doorknob. Dressed in a knee-length white summer dress, the woman of forty tied her flowing black hair into a bun, and, though older now, she still had the same beautiful skin she had in her twenties.

Got it, Mom! Mira shouted as if her mother was a room away. She grabbed the doorknob.

Goodness sakes, Mira! Run me over, why don’t you!

Sorry, Mom. I promised Nerin I’d be at the shores thirty minutes ago! He must be angry!

As she flung the door open and stepped onto the fragile steps with Nerin, Mira heard her mother’s last words, Make sure you’re home for dinner.

I will! Bang! The door slammed.

Where were you? Nerin questioned, Mira’s heart sank at his twisted brow, a sure sign of his complete disappointment.

I slept in...this owl kept ‘who-who-whoing.’ I couldn’t sleep.

Tossing and turning?

Yeah.

Been doing a lot of that lately, haven’t you?

I don’t know, Mira shrugged. I guess.

You have. Last weekend you told me you couldn’t fall sleep at all...something about a recurring nightmare. Three days ago, you told me you kept tossing and turning. And today...

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. I’m a basket-case. Can we head to the shores?

Sure. Tightly gripping his hand, she relaxed into the familiar touch of her best friend. Mira hoped that he would forgive her, because in this strange world, he was all she had…

The radiant shades of blue swimming in the silky sky fascinated Mira. They reminded her of the water coloring class she had in school, her favorite class. Weekend meant no painting because she had no paper at home. It was another scarce commodity, which is why Nerin made his origami doves out of leaves. So Mira enjoyed the beauty of the outdoors and imagined that the sky was her canvas. Each moment of movement felt like magic, as if she were witnessing something meant only for private eyes, something that could only be dissected by the most meticulous of detectives.

The magic was in the dance of the clouds and the rustle of the wind; the sky’s blue and white bled into the ever-moving stillness of the sea. Somewhere, even the stars performed miracles. But she could only enjoy their company at night. The sun always shone too brightly to see any of them in the daylight; dominating the day like an iron fist.

She walked with Nerin along the shore, trying to imagine how Jersey must look or how the rest of the world had adapted to the decrease of land mass and abundance of water. Did they suffer as much as the Mers did here?

Leaning into Nerin, she felt the chill of his chin against her cheek as she watched the fishermen along the shores of what was once Ellis Island. Mers often felt cold to her.

She watched as the fishermen lathered their limbs with a slimy substance, and then dove into the ocean in pods of three. She could barely see them below the surface. All Mira could make out were dark shadows beneath the waves, shadows with webbed limbs. The shadows revealed the fin-like motions of their silhouettes.

Like sharks, they darted in and out of currents and seaweed beds until they found the fish they pursued: fluke, bluefish and seabass. The fishing was a sight she often watched; it fascinated her. Mers didn’t need fishing poles. Within twenty minutes, the pod of three fishermen broke the surface, their bare chests gleaming, and shaking their full manes of hair.

The first indication of the Mers surfacing was always the pulsating yellow eyes. Six tiny pupils. First to pop up from the water, Caddis, a Mer of forty-five, was marked with two deep scars on his chin and cheek. Elegant, wet brunet curls fell to his shoulders, but his physique told of warrior strength. He wiped his heavy brows with one forearm as he gazed over the docks. Mira’s mom had told her that twenty years ago, Caddis had fought in many battles against the humans. He married his love at twenty, and his wife gave birth to a son before the slaughtering began. Humans massacred hundreds of Mers that day, including his wife. Caddis had raised his son on his own, teaching him the ways of the fisherman. Although Caddis was older, Mira imagined he had spent most of his youth hiding or fighting. It wasn’t much of a childhood, but then, most Mers must have lived that way.

Then Stillman, the stocky fisherman, splashed to the surface, breaking any concentration Mira had. He reminded her of a beluga whale with his pale skin, blonde hair, and rounded body. But, despite his heavy appearance, he remained one of the best fishermen, second only to Caddis. Long-time friends, the two Mers were frequently together.

Last to emerge was Vischer, who had striking features similar to those of his father, Caddis. Lean and strong, he stood a few inches shorter than his father but taller than Stillman. Because of his youth, he didn’t share in the knowledge and experience of the other two Mers. He had not known war, and he swam fearlessly.

Mira stretched toward the sea, drawing away from Nerin. Their clasped hands separated. She knew he was bored, but Mira liked to watch the Mers dart in and out of the water, something she could never do.

Are you going to stare all day? Nerin scratched his smooth leg.

I want to see them come ashore. My favorite part.

Oh, all right. Mira barely noticed how he rolled his eyes at her. She was lucky, he never minded waiting on her.

The three fishermen swam on a wave that crashed in toward the dock. As the wave rushed toward Mira, she stumbled backward. the men leapt out of the water, one-two-three, with a push of their finlike feet against the wave. They propelled themselves onto the docks, toes and fingers flickering like the fins of a fish out of water, and landed on their webbed feet, perfectly balanced.

Not impressive, Mira, Mira’s gaze snapped back to her best friend,I can do that too.

Really? I’ve never seen you do that!

I do it all the time, he bragged, as Mira frantically searched her memories of a time she had seen him do it.

Prove it. Mira raised her right brow, and the right side of her lip twisted upward. The dubious glare she gave him pushed him to the ledge of the docks.

I will!

Turning her soulful gaze on him as he focused on his dive, Nerin pointed his hands in front of him. The three fishermen all turned at once and grinned. This ought to be good, Stillman commented. With the sun high in the sky behind him, Nerin’s skin glistened as he stood on the dock. He curled his toes around the edge.

One, two, three! Diving forward, his toned arms disappeared first, followed by perfectly angled legs. A diver’s dream. Swishing about beneath the surface, he disappeared from her view. Mira squinted her eyes as she knelt on her knees on the dock, and her fingers wrapped around the edge. She drew her face near the water, needing a closer look.

Nerin? Turning her head to search for him, she huffed, I can’t see you.

His head popped up next to her, and his aquatically dynamic form pushed out of the surface of the water. Like a wet dog, he shook his head, his dark hair flinging pellets of water all over Mira.

But I see you! Nerin grinned.

What about my favorite part?

I wouldn’t give you any less! She watched as Nerin winked, then disappeared again under the sea, even further under the waves. She waited for him to kick himself out of the water and land on the docks, much like the fisherman had just demonstrated.

Only he hadn’t quite perfected the landing. While he was in mid-air, attempting to gain enough momentum to land smoothly, he caught his shins on the edge of

Reviews for Mers

[emily.varner · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really liked this book. It was different and a change of pace for me. Yes, it is another Dystopia novel, but with an interesting twist. If you are looking for a new book to read, start here!

[jbronderblogs_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One hundred years into the future, after a great flood, humans started getting strange adaptations. Some started developing gills and webbed fingers. This change caused a war between the Mers and regular humans. But an uneasy truce was created and the Mers could live on Liberty Shores while the humans took New Jersey. But things are changing. Mers are disappearing, pirates are capturing the Mers, and strange and dangerous sea creatures are arriving in the water.Mira has always felt like an outsider in the Mer community. She doesn’t have gills or webbed fingers and a head full of bright red hair really makes her stand out. She has always been loved but when she learns that she is a foundling, she wants to know more about the humans so she sets out for the human colony even though it is forbidden. So Mira and her best friend decided to go to New Jersey to find out more. There they are introduced to the different classes of people that run the human colony. They also learn the plans of the humans for the Mers and they have to go save their people. But being held captive will hinder their plans.This is a great new approach to the dystopia stories. You usually don’t see too many mermaid stories although they are slowly coming out. I loved the background and how the Mers come about and all the drama it caused. The world was expertly created and the story just flowed. I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read more in the Mer Chronicles.I received this book for free from the Library Thing early Reviewer Program in exchange for an honest review.

[mistique0130 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is basically the story of 17 year old Mira. She has been raised by Mers but she knows that she is not a Mer and her instincts tell her to cross the border into human territory to find her real parents. She decides to leave one night and ends up being joined by Nerin (a Mer boy that she likes) and his sister Nerissa. She does discover who she really is and finds herself in a predicament as she has to save the Mer community who raised her. There's a lot more to this story but I didn't want to give it away.I don't tend to read a lot of books based on a dystopian society but I do read a lot of young adult books so I was really excited to get to read this book. I liked the premise of the story and I did like the characters. My main problem is that Mira and Nerin felt a lot younger to me. Mira is supposed to be 17 so I assume Nerin is about the same. The whole time I was reading they just seemed a lot younger in their actions/dialogue. The only other issue I had was the editing which could have used a good proof-reading for typos. I was given an updated edition but I couldn't read that one either because the lines ended with the word being split between the two lines and that was even more confusing. I had a lot of trouble getting through this book. It could have been fleshed out a lot more with better developed characters. That being said I do look forward to reading several other books by this author that I have waiting on my kindle that are in her Shifters series.I received this ebook free through LibraryThing member giveaways in exchange for an honest review.

[bailschris · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

There is something about The Mers by Ami Blackwelder that is enchanting. The uniqueness of the story and the way that this race as well as the human race is written draws you in. You can't help but fall in love with the characters as they journey through an adventure to discover just who Mira really is.Ami Blackwelder captures the earnest desire of Mira's to understand who or rather what she is. All Mira knows is that she's different from the Mers who raised her. Is she like anyone else out there? It is this unquenchable desire that drives this book to its pinnacle and places anyone that Mira holds dear in danger. Especially Niren, her best friend and love interest. I adore how the author captured the human race with all of its darkness coming into play throughout this tell. But where there is darkness, there is also light. You will come to hate and love the different humans that play a part in this book. There are those that would kill to find a Mer, only to kill the Mer later, and those that will be the greatest help to Mira in her quest to save her friend and return to the home she took for granted. It's a wonderful book. It's unique and beautiful.

[deedee10_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was o.k. The plot of Mers is good and interesting and a nice break from vampires, zombies, angels, and werewolves. She did a great job building up the world in which her characters live and travel to. I think that this is a series that you need to take the time to look at and read. It may not be to everyone's taste, but if you want something different then give it a try. I don't think that you'll disappointed.

[hydrografie_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Received this book through lt giveaway.Once you ignore the scientific impossibilties of this book (both evolutional, biological, ecological and engineering wise), it is a rather amusing though somewhat simplistic book. Not being an american, i' m unsure what a ya book should be aimed for, but this book would be suitable at 12-14 yrs of age (at most) in Europe with the possible exception of the romantic references and kissing involved...

[kalyssa_4 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received Mers from the author Ami Blackwelder in return for a honest review from a giveaway on Librarything. The book is set 100 years in the future,over that time the earth has changed dramatically, causing humans to adapt to survive. Humans took to the water growing webbed feet and hands, gaining the ability to breath and swim under the water, these people are now called Mer. Mira isn't a mer, but she grew up among the mers even raised by mer parents. However Mira has always wondered who where she comes from because she's the only one of her kind living on Liberty Island. Mira decides to set out for the human colony even though they are forbidden to venture there she still has to know even if it means leaving the mer she loves. Nerin knows Mira maybe better then herself and he knows she's up to something but he's not going to let her go alone, so he goes with her, his little sister tags along with them. The trio journey to Jersey to find out who Mira really is. Since Nerin and Nerissa both have webbed feet and don't look like humans because they have adapted to the water it's up to Mira to explore the colony. While exploring the city Mira learns that Mers are treated like more like slaves while the royals rule the city. She meets Ethan the son of the king and instantly form a connection with him, wanting to learn more about the humans. However the more she learns the less and less she likes about the royals, they see the mers as nothing more then a product that they can use like wigs, skin cream, and they are hunted by pirates. I was super excited to win Mers because I've recently gotten hooked on mermaid books. I found the concept unique and fascinating, I had a hard time putting it down to do real life stuff. I really found Mira easy to connect with, she's likable with a good heart which is something I love in a character plus she's also a little kick-ass. I found the story well written, it flows smoothly, and the characters are well developed. I like the idea of the Mers I can see it happening if things were to change which brings on the question maybe we do have mermaids in the water. Mer's really played to my imagination and I loved that so much. I loved it and can't wait for the next one.

[jeeviebaby · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed the book! I am hoping that future books will go more into the romance with Nerin and Mira. (I'm a sucker for romance, especially in a dystopia!) I also want to know what Ethan and Edith's motives are. Looking forward to book #2!

[vivapdx_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mers by Ami Blackwelder is a charming coming-of-age story. After the Ice Caps melt and the seas rise humanity has to evolve to survive. When a young girl is caught up in the fight between species she learns that love is all that matters. Looking forward to book 2!

[jgoto_4 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I have to state from the beginning that I didn't get more than a few chapters into this before deciding to call it quits. Mers is a dystopian novel about a teenage human, Mira, who lives among the Mers, a group who have evolved to live more comfortably in the flooded lands that cover the Earth after the melting of the polar ice caps. It's an interesting premise, but the writing is undeveloped and the story is completely implausible. For someone who has grown up in this dystopian world, Mira just has too many memories/thoughts about the world as it was before the floods. She wonders if there are any masses of land in Europe, etc., although she has no desire to go there. Why would she even be thinking of such things if she has grown up knowing only water? This book is written for young adults, who are perhaps more gullible, but as for me, I didn't want to spend another minute reading it.

[mrsmich02 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

After having been given the chance to read this author's work, I had high hopes. A dystopian YA about mer-people sounded like a winner. For me, unfortunately, it did not live up to my expectations. It actually took me months and months to plod through it. The character dialogue transitions did not flow well. The situations seemed implausible if not impossible at times. The exclamations used throughout, i.e. AARGH, seemed more of a fit for a younger audience or something you'd see in an old Batman comic book...BIF! POW! I guess my biggest problem is that I just couldn't connect with the characters she created. I see that there are two follow-up stories and I am at least willing to give these characters and her writing style another chance.

[jwitt33 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

3.5 stars From Goodreads: "What lies beneath the surface? One hundred years from now, the world has changed and brought with it, new forms of life. Who are the Mers? Who is Mira? Mira always knew she was different. Growing up with Mers, she never quite fit in. When Mira breaks the rules and takes Niren across the border that divides Ellis Island and New Jersey, a border that divides two vastly different worlds, she thought the journey to find out who she really is would be an easy one. But as the world in Jersey proves to be a convoluted mix of Aristocrats who hate the Mers, Pirates who want to sell them, and Magi who want to use them...finding her true identity will be a challenge, especially when her best friend Niren is a Mer willing to fight to the death." When I read the synopsis of this book I was really excited to read it - a mermaid dystopian! I was hooked! Unfortunately, while the concept was very original, I never really connected to the characters, and I felt the writing was a bit stiff, especially during the conversations. When the teens were talking, it didn't sound like any teens I know. In too many instances where there should have been contractions, they just weren't there, and I personally don't know of any kids who talk as formal as these characters did. I also felt that in the relationship between Mira and Nerin, we were TOLD too often how in love they were, instead of being shown it. That being said, I did enjoy many aspects of the plot: when Mira decided to cross the border to try to find her parents and Nerin followed her, and all the trouble they got into in Remnantville after they found out what was being done to their fellow Mers. Even though Mira was human, she was never treated like an outcast by the Mers she grew up with, and she always sided with them, no matter what. Keeping the Mers safe was her first priority, even above finding her parents, and I loved that about her. All in all I enjoyed the storyline, I just wish I had connected more with the characters. This is the first of a planned trilogy and I will be reading the next two in the hopes that they are better fleshed out in the books to come :D

[angelscryhavoc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Book Title: The MersAuthor: Ami BlackwelderPublished By: Eloquent Enraptures PublishingGenre: Romance/SupernaturalRecommended Age: 15+Reviewed By: Emily Tuley / AngelsCryHavocBlog Reviewed For: Great Minds Think Aloud Literary CommunityRating: 4 RavensThis was definitely what I have spent a lot of time looking for. Today a lot of the same stories are made to all sound the same way. Lately we have all had more vampires, werewolves and other supernatural type of beings that we have lost out on the other monster and gods of old. Ami has done an amazing job of thinking up not only new ways to bring about a new Hero and Heroine but also getting a story that will draw you in. As with all stories there are the ups and the downs also the flaws but, thankfully this story is not the last in it’s series and so things will come out smoother I’m sure in the end. However, with it’s imperfections and perfections I have to say that I’m glad to say that this book did not let it pull me away but kept me turning the pages to delve deeper into this world .The story is of Mira a young woman growing up in a world where she never truly feels she fits in, In love with a mer as they are called on the area where she grew up. She is hungry to learn why the humans hate the mer’s so much and if she’s a human and not a mer why she was given away forgotten and abandoned on the beach that she was. Together her and Nerin the young man mer she is in love with adventures from the small patch of land that they have all been banished to it’s from here that her world becomes something she never thought. She grows and finds not only her long lost father, mother but a brother and things take a turn for the extreme. There is adventure, danger , love and family in this book elements that all pull together to help keep you on the roller coaster ride and leave you awaiting for more…

[kl1028 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was unlike any book I've come across-and I really enjoyed it! I would recommend this to others and look forward to future books in the series!

[demonite93 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was an interesting story, for a young adult type of book. The story revolves around a young girl (Mira) who is a human that is raised by a hybrid race of people called Mers. (It might just be me but when she described the Mers it instantly brought to mind the image of a Zora from Zelda. It’s not completely accurate but I couldn’t stop myself) Mira is on the hunt to find out where she comes from and what her people (the humans) are like. The story takes place after a giant flood of the entire globe (a lot like Waterworld). The story is interesting but again I’ll state this is in a YA format so don’t get over excited about details and progression. I enjoyed it, it was short and sweet. I would definitely recommend it to any young adult readers that enjoy some good fiction.

[jolynnsbooks · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

A young adult paranormal dystopian romance. The world has become almost entirely covered by water. There are two groups of people - those who have mermaid-like characteristics, and those who are still entirely human. The humans hunt The Mer and kill them. One teen age girl, Mira is caught between the two worlds. While I love mermaids, this book just wasn't my cup of tea. I felt it needed more editing. Your mileage may vary.

[hoganedix · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book took me over a month to read. True, I was in the midst of a move from Delaware to Ohio and it spanned the crazy-busy Christmas and New Years holidays but ordinarily I finish books in a matter of days, not weeks. I did appreciate that this was a very different storyline but I found the writing very clumsy. The authors used a technique which allowed the reader to know every characters point of view yet never consistently. One sentence to the next you were in and out of one character's mind to another. Mira is a member of the Mers, a community of outcast part-human, part-mermaid. The Mers have been systematically hunted by humans for their believed magical hair, skin, eyes and other body parts. While Mira has grown up in this community her whole life she knows that she is fundamentally different. She doesn't have webbed hands and feet like her family and friends. She can not breathe underwater as they can either. Confronting her parents one night, she asks for an explanation as to how she can be so utterly different from all around her. Her parents gently explain that they found her abandoned as a young infant. Mira is of course shocked by the news but eventually she decides to brave a journey to Remnantville, the neighboring human village, to see if she might better understand her origins. The trip is fraught with dangers: Pirates who hunt the Mers, Magi who sell the Mers' body parts to the humans, and the humans themselves.Mira finds that her nocturnal journey to Remnantville is not solitary as her best friend and soon-to-be boyfriend Nerin accompanies her. Mira is greatly relieved not to have to continue on alone though when Nerin's young sister Nerissa sneaks along as well the danger truly builds. Now Mira, who looks like a human, must help protect her very obvious Mer companions. The plot continues with evasion from the King's guards to capture from the King's guards to Mira discovering who her real parents were to meeting her half-brother-Ethan-now-turned-King to suddenly trusting Ethan to protect her after knowing her only 3 days. There are two further books planned in this series.I found the plot riddled with inconsistencies: Mira lives in complete isolation among the Mers for 17 years yet seemingly overnight picks up on all the ins and outs of Remantville. How could she be so savvy as to know how to break into a prison or address a King and Queen? Why ever would she takes the risks she does when she is in such a foreign land? While it is clear Mira loves Nerin and he her, the romance isn't all that powerful or special. It just seems to be a technique to create a sense of loyalty among certain characters. I was thrilled to receive this as a free copy but unfortunately just can't give it a thumbs up. While there is absolutely nothing objectionable about the content, it was just "meh."Suited for middle school students who enjoy a fantasy realm with a dose of sweet, if vague, romance.

[sandeen_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the story of a girl who is human among a world of Mers, a race who have developed due to the encroachment of water onto land. Abandoned as a child, she is accepted into a people who would normally fear and hate her. This is the story of how she discovers who, and what, she really is.This is a book for students who are looking for the opportunity to discover a new twist on the fate of human existence, watch love bloom and grow, and take an impossible ride that only this author could take.This book took a different approach to life after the Apocalypse, though somewhat familiar. It showed me the dark side of human nature, without really getting into it, and a story that I wanted to know, but at points dragged on. Strange twists and turns kept the book moving forward.

[realalondra45 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

well written.Interesting characters.Creative.original in the way of resolving issues.Good link with mythology and original form of updating it.The action develops in a good pass and I like the suggestion that the author creates envolving the reader.Like it and Fun.Looking forward to a saga...

[roadway2000_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A very good book that keeps your interest from the beginning to the end. Never gets boring and is a good read.

[wiwi69-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I was not sure what to expect when I began reading The Mers. It is a story set in the future after most land has been swallowed up by floods. Some people have begun to evolve to adapt to the water covered earth. War has been ongoing as humans have fought to eliminate and force out those who have developed these new physical traits that help them to survive in a watery world. The other part of the story is about a young girl who was raised by mers, but does not have any of their abilities. She searches for answers as to who she is and finds her loyalty solidily with her parents who raised her and the young mer/man whom she loves. It was a quick read and a fun, action packed story that would be appropriate for younger readers.

[annakay21 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Mira is a teenage girl living in a shattered world, a world that survived a massive flood and is mostly made up of water now. Humans have been evolving to adapt to their new environment, some being born with gills and webbed hands/feet. This has caused wars between the newly evolved humans, named Mers, and the humans who have stayed the same. The wars are supposedley over, but the races remain separated and pirates steal away unsuspecting Mers to sell their bodies piece by piece to the wealthy humans who use them to try and live forever. Mira has realized that even though she lives as a Mer, she isn't one. All she wants is to know where she comes from and who her real parents are. But all Mira manages to do when she steals away to the human side of the divide is cause major trouble for all the Mers, especially her best friend Nerin and his sister Nerissa. It sparks the remnants of the war, threatening to blow up the powder keg of resentments lying in wait. Who will be left standing in the end, humans or Mers? This was an extremely interesting read and I liked the plotline. It was like nothing I've ever read before and I can honestly say it's the first Mermaid-dystopian I've ever heard of! The beauty of the language and the plot couldn't make up for the truly lacking dialogue and the two-dimensional characters who I never really cared about at all. I read disinterestedley because I was not emotionally connected to Mira enought to care whether she won or not. And that is a deal-breaker for me. I would recommend this to curiosity seekers looking for something truly different and younger teens who might be swept up in Mira and Nerin's romance.VERDICT: 2/5 Stars*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the author herself, via LibraryThing. No money was exchanged for this review. The publication date of this book was October 19th, 2011.*

[heatherms · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Mers by Ami BlackwelderThe Mers is a dystopian story that that takes place in a futuristic New Jersey/New York. After catastrophic worldwide flooding, only small parts of land still exist. Human beings are forced to adapt to this new world. Some humans are able to start adapting to living part time in the water, developing gills and also webbing between fingers/toes and legs that enables to person to swim and live in the water. The humans on land are the same as everyday humans, no gills, no webbing. The humans who have adapted to the water are referred to as the Mers. There is distrust between the two groups, and much fighting breaks out. When the story begins, both sets of humans are separated and have an agreement not to go near the other group.The main character of this story is a teenager named Mira. Mira has grown up with the Mers, but is not a mer but a human with land features. Although she is considered part of the mer community, she longs to find the parents who gave her up. She sets out to find her birth parents and goes to the forbidden place where land humans live. With her is her best friend and mer, Nirren, and his little sister, Nerissa. As with any good novel, the journey is far from being peaceful and easy. As Mira begins to unravel the truths surrounding her birth and the fissure between the two groups, her life and those of her friend and little sister are constantly being threatened. Can Mira find her parents and help bring peace to the two sets of humans?I found this story to be very interesting. The main character, Mira, was brought to life in this story and the reader is lucky to be along for the unique and interesting journey she goes on. I thought that the author did a good job on setting up the two societies and also the characters. I must admit, though, that the Mers are definitely protrayed as the peaceful, loving group and the land humans as the oppressive, evil group. It is very black and white and I wish that the author would have shown how each side has their flaws but also has their good qualities. While I enjoyed reading about the Mers and their society, I felt a little let down when I got to the land humans and their society. The author set up the ending to allow for another book (or books) to continue the saga. I enjoyed this first book and am very interested to see where the author ends up taking the story when the next book comes out.

[reb922 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Mers is a dystopian novel set in the not too distant future. following catastrophic flooding there is only a limited amount of land left for habitation. This land includes some parts of Washington State and Ellis Island and Jersey (not quite sure how a mostly man made island created from landfill in New York harbor survived but ill suspend belief). As a result humans have started to adapt and evolve for the seas. These new genetic variations are called Mers and have been shunned, used and isolated for various reasons. Mira has grown up among the Mers but has always felt different but does that mean she is human? The Mers takes us on Miras journey to find out who shes is. I liked the story and its is a different twist on some of the others YA dystopians i have read recently and was a nice change. I am very interested to see where this series will go.

[tziporaraphaella · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Mers is not quite the type of novel I usually read. I'm not a big fan of the fantasy genre but I DO love a good dystopian story! And Mers delivered on that! The novel takes place on Ellis Island and in New Jersey after the world has flooded. There is very little land left that is not covered by water and very few humans left also. Through the generations since the flood humans have begun to adapt to the water and more and more of them have developed mermaid-like features. But many of the humans are disgusted by the Mer features and many wars have occured between the humans and Mers. Our heroine Mira grows up in the Mer community but knows she is different. She's not sure if she is a human but she definitely isn't like the other Mers. She knows her Mer parents found her in a basket and she decides to go on a quest, joined by her best friend who quickly becomes her boyfriend Nirren and his little sister Nerissa, to find her birth parents. The quest is dangerous from the start as Mers and humans are separated and hate one another. Hiding Nirren and Nerissa's Mer features proves to be a challenge and Mira discovers just how cruel the humans are. But what is Mira?As already mentioned, this novel does Dystopian lit well. It's also a coming of age novel with some romance. It's one of the most unique YA novels I have ever read. I look forward to reading the sequels. *I won the ebook version of this novel through the LibraryThing member giveaway*