Revel by Maurissa Guibord

Book:  Revel

Author:  Maurissa Guibord

Publisher:  Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Date:  Available now

Source:  Publisher via Edelweiss

My grade:  B+

There’s an island off the coast of Maine that’s not on any modern map.

Shrouded in mist and protected by a deadly reef, Trespass Island is home to a community of people who guard the island and its secrets from outsiders. Seventeen-year-old Delia grew up in Kansas, but has come here in search of her family and answers to her questions: Why didn’t her mother ever talk about Trespass Island? Why did she fear the open water? But Delia’s not welcome and soon finds herself enmeshed in a frightening and supernatural world where ancient Greek symbols adorn the buildings and secret ceremonies take place on the beach at night.

Sean Gunn, a handsome young lobsterman, befriends Delia and seems willing to risk his life to protect her. But it’s Jax, the coldly elusive young man she meets at the water’s edge, who finally makes Delia understand the real dangers of life on the island. Delia is going to have to fight to survive. Because there are monsters here. And no one ever leaves Trespass alive.

Initial reaction

I liked this twist in the story elements.  Plus, I like mythology!

Cover Story

I like the title and after reading the book, I understand it, which is always a plus.  I also like this cover.  It has the water, which is important and it has the girl, but luckily, there’s no girl in the water in a prom dress!!!

What’s the Story?

Delia is an orphan.  Her mother passed away and she doesn’t know who her father is.  She goes from foster home to foster home until finally, she decides to search out her grandmother on this mysterious island off the coast of Maine called Trespass Island.  She has a bit of trouble getting there because no one ever goes there, but she finally makes it.  Her Gran is anything but happy to see her at first and tries to send her back to the mainland.  This is when all hell breaks loose and the story takes off.

I really enjoyed this one.  I am a longtime lover of Greek mythology, from the first time my grubby little elementary school hands picked up a copy of D’Aulaire’s Greek Mythology.  That book was my constant companion throughout elementary school and I think I still have parts of it memorized.  So, I love books that have Greek mythology and I especially love books that have good twists on the Greek mythology.  Revel is one of those books.

Now, my husband just laughs out loud when we show up in the YA section of the bookstore and he sees “Paranormal Teen Romance” followed by “Vampires”, “Werewolves” and “Fairies”.  But he about busted a gut when he saw “Mermaids” added to that on the shelf one day.  And I know why.  People imagine Ariel and Prince Eric in book form.  Let me assure you that Revel is not The Little Mermaid.  In fact, it was pretty creepy in some parts and pretty grotesque throughout.  It utilizes a lot of sea lore mixed in with the mythology and I really like the novel’s take on the siren mythology.

In fact, one of the only things that took away from this novel’s storyline for me was the dreaded…….(drum roll, please)……LOVE TRIANGLE!!!  I am so over that, people!  I just don’t like them any more and I didn’t like this one either.  A lot of books are starting to either not have a second love interest or they have one that is so overwhelmingly better that it doesn’t matter anymore.  Not this one.  Stop doing this to me!  My heart is too old for this!

Other than the 2 love interests that I liked for different reasons, this book felt like it had a pretty solid story line.  There was adventure, conflict, self-discovery and a huge calamity to overcome.  Even though it wrapped up rather nicely, there’s room for the story to continue and I have to say that I would be happy to read some more in this world.  So, if you like Greek mythology and stories that offer a little something different, this is a good novel to pick up.

The Soundtrack

Silence by Sarah MacLachlan

Mystery by Beth Orton

Home by Jack Johnson

Beyond the Sea by Celtic Woman

Crystal by Stevie Nicks

The Old Ways by Loreena McKennitt

Mermaid by Woodland

The Final Grade
My final grade for this is B+.  It lost some points for a terrible love triangle, but other than that, I really enjoyed this book.  I hope there is another planned.