Emily Windsnap and the Land of the Midnight Sun

January 15, 2013
Can half-mermaid Emily rely upon her friends to help her find the source of Neptune's nightmares? Will they be able to unravel the mystery of his memories before an evil threat takes over the waters? Kessler's fifth installment in this popular series continues with a successful mix of fantasy, mystery, adventure and a touch of romance. Emily and boyfriend Aaron are summoned by Neptune to embark on a quest that is "extremely important, extremely secret...and extremely dangerous." With only snippets of dreams as clues, they set off north to the Arctic in search of a lake surrounded by mountains and a glacier--"a place filled with secrets and magic...and fear." Soon they encounter underwater bubbles filled with memories, discover a frozen yet thawing twin brother of Neptune, meet a wise narwhal and confront their leader with the truth. The dialogue is quick and the action even quicker as the plot twists and turns in unexpected ways. Questions of trust dominate, as many characters are faced with difficult decisions. Can Millie trust the love of her life even though he has been acting oddly? Can Emily count on her best friend, whom she has neglected, to keep a secret? Can Neptune believe his brother Njord truly wants to reunite and rule the oceans together? The unexpected ending will surely satisfy as a fitting close to this light page turner. Past fans of the series should especially enjoy diving in. (Fantasy. 9-12)

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January 1, 2014
In her fifth book, Emily is recruited by Neptune for a secret mission. According to Neptune's nightmares, "the land of the midnight sun" contains a threat to the survival of all creatures, and Emily and fellow half-merperson Aaron are charged with eliminating it. The setting is vividly depicted, but the pace of this adventure is slow and character development is flat.

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