Surface
by Tiffany Daune
Publication: February, 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal
Publication: February, 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal
Synopsis:
Bound to the water bound to land, a Siren’s soul will never be safe on either side of the ocean’s surface. Hidden beneath the rolling waves lies the secret to Theia’s past and as she unveils each haunting truth, she realizes the last seventeen years of her life have been a lie. Now, drawn into a mysterious new world and with nowhere to turn, Theia must place her trust in Luc, a beautiful boy who stops her heart with each dazzling smile, but even his unearthly charm can’t hide the truth—he has secrets— dark secrets binding him to his world—an underwater world where Theia will never belong—a world determined to destroy her soul.
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AUTHOR BIO
Tiffany Daune doesn't get why people want to grow up or why anyone would ever stop eating candy. Her purse is filled with books, lip gloss and a few pieces of Lego bricks. She writes best with a dish of chocolate chips on hand and finds licorice makes a better straw than plastic.
She lives on an island and believes mermaids may be raiding her candy stash, thoughshe hasn't caught them, yet.
Surface is her first novel and pairs well with gummy sharks.
Author Links:
Giveaway:
Tour grand prize (INTL):
1 E Reader
1 $25 Starbucks Gift Card
1 $15 Amazon Gift Card
5 Digital Copies of Surface
Excerpt (Chapter Three)
The wind whipped along the water's surface. Theia gasped for air, trying to stay afloat. Waves rolled in the distance, and a thick veil of rain began to fall from the sky. She tried to tread above the choppy waves, but salty water kept slipping down her throat, threatening to take her down. She had always been a great swimmer, even placing first in the state meet, but, as the freezing water soaked through her skin, pushing her temperature down by the second, she wondered how long she could survive. Theia imagined hypothermia might set in. She remembered the video from school about a bunch of kids who went hiking and froze to death on a mountain. The scary part was they didn't really even know what was happening to them. Their minds grew confused, and then they just drifted off to sleep.
Theia couldn't fall asleep here—the water would swallow her whole. She raised one arm over the other, attempting a front crawl as the waves beat against her chest. She tried to stay calm by thinking about her mom who always made her feel safe, the only person she had left.
Tears rolled down her cheeks, each drop chasing the rain. Theia wondered what her mom had done when she found the house empty.
Did the kidnappers even leave a note?
But, even if her mom could scrape together enough money for a ransom, Theia would be dead before she paid it. She yelled, screaming through her frustration. She might never see her mom again, and the last thing Theia had said to her had been cruel.
The whole fight was stupid, really. Theia had just received a letter from Southern State, offering her a full scholarship to college. Her mom was thrilled, but Theia had crumpled up the letter carelessly, tossing the opportunity in the trash. She wanted to go back to Chicago—she needed her friends. She hadn't asked to be transplanted into the middle of the south, but, when her grandmother suddenly passed away, leaving them one massive house and a beach cottage in Charleston, her mom thought a move was best. Especially when the top private high school in the area offered to waive Theia's $16,000 tuition if she joined their failing swim team.
The argument over Southern State had escalated when her mom told her she should be thankful. Theia had shrugged, and her mom had gone into overdrive. She pounded her fist on the counter and shrieked something about Theia never thinking of others. Then, without warning, she had stormed out of the house shouting, "Grow up, Theia!"
Her mom was right. How could she have been so selfish?"
"I'm so sorry!" Theia called out, but the only response she received was from the wind, howling churning the water around her.
Theia stopped treading water and tilted her head back, letting her body float. There was no point in fighting—she had already lost.
The rain continued to drown out the sun, and Theia had no idea what time of day it was, but she was sure she wouldn't make it until nightfall. Her limbs grew heavy like an anchor seeking the sandy bottom. She let her eyelids slide closed. She couldn't fall asleep—sleep meant death in the middle of the ocean, but resting her eyes let her imagine someplace else—a place without so much water.
Her head dipped below the surface, and she bolted up at once.
Bad girl, she scolded herself. You want to die like this? You have to stay awake!
She continued her mental pep talk as she straightened her legs and swam a little farther. Her legs worked like scissors, cutting through the thick water, leading her to nowhere, but she had to try to find the shore. She found her rhythm, moving with the flow of the water, moving faster now, imagining the shoreline before her.
Theia kicked harder, her eyes focused on the horizon. She thrust forward, but, as she did, her ankle caught on something—she was stuck. She kicked with her left leg, but a crushing hold, like a fist wrapped around her ankle. Her scream was cut off as her head slipped under. Her body rushed through the water as if being dragged by an invisible tow rope.
Theia twisted, wriggling free from the force, and she frantically paddled her way to the surface. Her leg burned with the sting of salt water—she had been cut. She reached for her leg, trying to see the wound, but she was swiped from the side. She screamed and tucked her legs up to her chest. Her gaze darted to the ring of dark shadows circling beneath her.
"Oh crap—sharks!"
Her heart pounded, pulsing hot blood through her veins—the same crimson cocktail that would draw the sharks.
Stay calm, she told herself. Sharks are only curious. They don't actually attack.
But she was wounded and bleeding. The blood would attract them. Again, something thumped against her torso, nudging her forward. Then the fist that had gripped her ankle crushed itself around her wrist. She could feel each finger digging into her flesh, increasing the pressure one by one. Theia thought she was going insane, imagining shark's teeth as fingers. And just when she believed she had completely lost her mind, a delicate hand reached up from beneath the rolling water and waved to her like a princess in the Rose Bowl parade.
In shock, Theia kicked harder, but she wasn't strong enough to break free. Another wretched hand clutched her ankle and dragged her straight down. Theia rolled her torso and yanked her legs free again, kicking furiously to the surface. Her mouth opened to scream, but the hands pulled her under again, deep below the surface, and water filled her throat. Theia punched out with her fists, in every direction, but she hit nothing.
Just then, the water in front of her began to glow casting a murky light, and from the darkness emerged a small face. Theia pushed back against the water, stunned as she stared at what looked to be a little girl. The child smiled sweetly as she brushed her wispy, black hair from her face.
I'm hallucinating, Theia told herself.
The girl swayed from side to side, her delicate, webbed arms floating beside her like wings.
An angel, Theia thought.
Theia reached out, willing to take her hand. But, just as she believed the cherub would carry her off to heaven, the girl's slanted eyes narrowed, and her pretty smile split. She let out a shrill cry, the sound thrusting the water up in a spiral, trapping Theia in a liquid cage. Theia ripped her wrist free from the demon girl, but she was outnumbered. Three more circled her, closing in. The demons wailed with deafening howls, churning the water with each cry. Theia clutched her head. She pinched her eyes shut. Death was supposed to be peaceful—not a nightmare.
The child's lips curled around her wrist. Pain pierced her as she felt a set of fangs penetrate deep within her flesh. Theia tried to pull away, but the others were quick. They darted around her methodically, pricking her arms and then her legs, over and over again until a crimson cloud engulfed them all.
Suddenly, they let her go. Drained, Theia drifted toward the sandy bottom. She glanced up as she fell, watching as one child cupped her hands together to sip the salty water mixed with her blood.
Go ahead, drink, Theia thought. Drink all you want. I'll be dead soon.
But, as Theia's blood passed the girl's lips, her brow scrunched, and her lips puckered. She spewed the bloody cocktail back into the water. Her eyes glowed, torn with rage, and she tilted her head back in a howl. She lunged towards Theia, snatching up her battered arm in her shaking little fist.
There's nothing left, Theia thought, wincing, expecting to feel the child's fangs again.
But the girl didn't want more blood; she was searching for something else. She held Theia's arm for a moment, her eyes wide in puzzlement. Then, without warning, she let out a shattering cry. Alarmed, the other girls circled around her to get a better look. They stared wideeyed, floating above her in an eerie silence. But the peace didn't last long. They began to shriek. One demon child tore at her dark hair, while another girl convulsed as if she had been poisoned. The smallest of the girls seemed the angriest, her wailing now replaced by a low hiss. Theia wanted to fight them off, but she couldn't even lift her head. All she could do was watch as the smallest girl stretched her open jaw across her chest. Theia closed her eyes waiting for the demon's fangs to puncture her flesh.
But, instead of pain, she felt a current jolt the water all around her, and then she felt a sudden calm. Through the vibration, she thought she could hear someone talking to her, deep within her mind, soothing her inside. She forced her eyes open. The demon girl swayed before her. Her head was bent at an odd angle, her lips sealed in pain. Something— someone—had struck her. But, instead of retaliating against her attacker, she bolted towards her companions, and they took off at once, their iridescent tails vanishing into the dark water.
Theia felt, like she was watching some bizarre movie in slow motion, all the images drifting in and out before her eyes. But just before her lids slipped shut, she held on to one last vision. Through the haze in her mind, she could make out the face of a boy. He seemed so familiar— maybe one of her classmates? No, she had never seen him before except for maybe in one of her dreams—yes, he had to be from her dreams.
He was extraordinary. He seemed to glow, illuminating the dark water with shimmering light, his splendid face smiling at her.
My guardian angel. Theia smiled. Hell would have to wait.
The boy wrapped himself around Theia like a cloak, his sparkling blue eyes fixed on hers. Peace washed through her as she drifted away— safe in the arms of death.
Did the kidnappers even leave a note?
But, even if her mom could scrape together enough money for a ransom, Theia would be dead before she paid it. She yelled, screaming through her frustration. She might never see her mom again, and the last thing Theia had said to her had been cruel.
The whole fight was stupid, really. Theia had just received a letter from Southern State, offering her a full scholarship to college. Her mom was thrilled, but Theia had crumpled up the letter carelessly, tossing the opportunity in the trash. She wanted to go back to Chicago—she needed her friends. She hadn't asked to be transplanted into the middle of the south, but, when her grandmother suddenly passed away, leaving them one massive house and a beach cottage in Charleston, her mom thought a move was best. Especially when the top private high school in the area offered to waive Theia's $16,000 tuition if she joined their failing swim team.
The argument over Southern State had escalated when her mom told her she should be thankful. Theia had shrugged, and her mom had gone into overdrive. She pounded her fist on the counter and shrieked something about Theia never thinking of others. Then, without warning, she had stormed out of the house shouting, "Grow up, Theia!"
Her mom was right. How could she have been so selfish?"
"I'm so sorry!" Theia called out, but the only response she received was from the wind, howling churning the water around her.
Theia stopped treading water and tilted her head back, letting her body float. There was no point in fighting—she had already lost.
The rain continued to drown out the sun, and Theia had no idea what time of day it was, but she was sure she wouldn't make it until nightfall. Her limbs grew heavy like an anchor seeking the sandy bottom. She let her eyelids slide closed. She couldn't fall asleep—sleep meant death in the middle of the ocean, but resting her eyes let her imagine someplace else—a place without so much water.
Her head dipped below the surface, and she bolted up at once.
Bad girl, she scolded herself. You want to die like this? You have to stay awake!
She continued her mental pep talk as she straightened her legs and swam a little farther. Her legs worked like scissors, cutting through the thick water, leading her to nowhere, but she had to try to find the shore. She found her rhythm, moving with the flow of the water, moving faster now, imagining the shoreline before her.
Theia kicked harder, her eyes focused on the horizon. She thrust forward, but, as she did, her ankle caught on something—she was stuck. She kicked with her left leg, but a crushing hold, like a fist wrapped around her ankle. Her scream was cut off as her head slipped under. Her body rushed through the water as if being dragged by an invisible tow rope.
Theia twisted, wriggling free from the force, and she frantically paddled her way to the surface. Her leg burned with the sting of salt water—she had been cut. She reached for her leg, trying to see the wound, but she was swiped from the side. She screamed and tucked her legs up to her chest. Her gaze darted to the ring of dark shadows circling beneath her.
"Oh crap—sharks!"
Her heart pounded, pulsing hot blood through her veins—the same crimson cocktail that would draw the sharks.
Stay calm, she told herself. Sharks are only curious. They don't actually attack.
But she was wounded and bleeding. The blood would attract them. Again, something thumped against her torso, nudging her forward. Then the fist that had gripped her ankle crushed itself around her wrist. She could feel each finger digging into her flesh, increasing the pressure one by one. Theia thought she was going insane, imagining shark's teeth as fingers. And just when she believed she had completely lost her mind, a delicate hand reached up from beneath the rolling water and waved to her like a princess in the Rose Bowl parade.
In shock, Theia kicked harder, but she wasn't strong enough to break free. Another wretched hand clutched her ankle and dragged her straight down. Theia rolled her torso and yanked her legs free again, kicking furiously to the surface. Her mouth opened to scream, but the hands pulled her under again, deep below the surface, and water filled her throat. Theia punched out with her fists, in every direction, but she hit nothing.
Just then, the water in front of her began to glow casting a murky light, and from the darkness emerged a small face. Theia pushed back against the water, stunned as she stared at what looked to be a little girl. The child smiled sweetly as she brushed her wispy, black hair from her face.
I'm hallucinating, Theia told herself.
The girl swayed from side to side, her delicate, webbed arms floating beside her like wings.
An angel, Theia thought.
Theia reached out, willing to take her hand. But, just as she believed the cherub would carry her off to heaven, the girl's slanted eyes narrowed, and her pretty smile split. She let out a shrill cry, the sound thrusting the water up in a spiral, trapping Theia in a liquid cage. Theia ripped her wrist free from the demon girl, but she was outnumbered. Three more circled her, closing in. The demons wailed with deafening howls, churning the water with each cry. Theia clutched her head. She pinched her eyes shut. Death was supposed to be peaceful—not a nightmare.
The child's lips curled around her wrist. Pain pierced her as she felt a set of fangs penetrate deep within her flesh. Theia tried to pull away, but the others were quick. They darted around her methodically, pricking her arms and then her legs, over and over again until a crimson cloud engulfed them all.
Suddenly, they let her go. Drained, Theia drifted toward the sandy bottom. She glanced up as she fell, watching as one child cupped her hands together to sip the salty water mixed with her blood.
Go ahead, drink, Theia thought. Drink all you want. I'll be dead soon.
But, as Theia's blood passed the girl's lips, her brow scrunched, and her lips puckered. She spewed the bloody cocktail back into the water. Her eyes glowed, torn with rage, and she tilted her head back in a howl. She lunged towards Theia, snatching up her battered arm in her shaking little fist.
There's nothing left, Theia thought, wincing, expecting to feel the child's fangs again.
But the girl didn't want more blood; she was searching for something else. She held Theia's arm for a moment, her eyes wide in puzzlement. Then, without warning, she let out a shattering cry. Alarmed, the other girls circled around her to get a better look. They stared wideeyed, floating above her in an eerie silence. But the peace didn't last long. They began to shriek. One demon child tore at her dark hair, while another girl convulsed as if she had been poisoned. The smallest of the girls seemed the angriest, her wailing now replaced by a low hiss. Theia wanted to fight them off, but she couldn't even lift her head. All she could do was watch as the smallest girl stretched her open jaw across her chest. Theia closed her eyes waiting for the demon's fangs to puncture her flesh.
But, instead of pain, she felt a current jolt the water all around her, and then she felt a sudden calm. Through the vibration, she thought she could hear someone talking to her, deep within her mind, soothing her inside. She forced her eyes open. The demon girl swayed before her. Her head was bent at an odd angle, her lips sealed in pain. Something— someone—had struck her. But, instead of retaliating against her attacker, she bolted towards her companions, and they took off at once, their iridescent tails vanishing into the dark water.
Theia felt, like she was watching some bizarre movie in slow motion, all the images drifting in and out before her eyes. But just before her lids slipped shut, she held on to one last vision. Through the haze in her mind, she could make out the face of a boy. He seemed so familiar— maybe one of her classmates? No, she had never seen him before except for maybe in one of her dreams—yes, he had to be from her dreams.
He was extraordinary. He seemed to glow, illuminating the dark water with shimmering light, his splendid face smiling at her.
My guardian angel. Theia smiled. Hell would have to wait.
The boy wrapped himself around Theia like a cloak, his sparkling blue eyes fixed on hers. Peace washed through her as she drifted away— safe in the arms of death.
My Surface Review
Wow, what a great book. I have not read many books that have to do with the water. I will be keeping this review short, as I do not want to give away any of the cool surprises.
I loved Luc, he is so sweet, and Theia is a great character. I think the character development was fantastic. I found myself really liking Dumas and what he is trying to do, he is a real hero, as well as Fiona.
Celeste and Angelique I found to be a bit shallow at first, they were a bit reckless to me. Overall the characters all bring a lot to this story.
I will say, the first chapter or two will have you wondering what the heck is going on, but that was some of the fun of the mystery to me. Hang in there, you get some answers around the 4th chapter and on.
This was a refreshing unique paranormal book, which I just adored. I look forward to more work from this author.
I also love the cover, it’s just right, it really is.
5 out of 5 stars, I highly recommend this book. It will hook you right from the start.
I was provided a copy of this book for my honest review.
If you liked my review, I would love the support at Amazon, and mark it as helpful, Link Here.
Or Like it at Goodreads, Here. Thanks!
If you liked my review, I would love the support at Amazon, and mark it as helpful, Link Here.
Or Like it at Goodreads, Here. Thanks!
You can find the rest of the tour Here
Looks like an interesting book. Can't wait to read it :)
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Thank you Michelle for being part of the tour! Love the review:)
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