I wanted to like this book, but when I didn't care about the characters or the plot at nearly halfway through the book I decided to stop reading and let it go. The main deciding factor for me was that I really dislike the villain (and not in a good way). I read the first 118 pages of the book, and then jumped all the way to the finale to read the last 30 pages. Given that I had absolutely no problem figuring out what was going on, I think skipping the middle was the right solution for me. ~ DNF @ 49%

This is a stand-alone, not following the main Eric Banyon storyline. Olivia is invited to spend a summer holiday in the Arondiracks with her jock boyfriend, Blake, and his family. Blake is a champion swimmer and has latched onto Olivia as a smokescreen to disguise his relationship with Audrey, the adopted daughter of one of the other families that holiday there. Olivia is a nerd, and doesn't look a gift horse in the mouth, despite Blake treating her like dirt. However, when she gets there, she sees things in a new light; and also discovers the truth about Audrey - she's a Lamia, and pretty nasty.

Audrey tries to kill Olivia, and Olivia is rescued by Dylan, one of the lifeguards - who is a Selkie. He's on the run from his family - he was chosen as a champion for a battle he can't win; the other side had been negotiating in bad faith and chose a leviathan as their champion. However, until the battle takes place, the others can't attack humanity, so he stole a protective amulet and headed inland.

Better than Breaking Silence; it read less YA. Again more for completists; although it seems Olivia's mother had previous dealing with the fae, there's no real link into the main series.

A fun entry in the Bedlam’s Bard series. When Olivia is manipulated into taking a summer trip with Blake to the Adirondacks she becomes the target of his lamia girlfriend. There she discovers both the bright and dark side of the magical world. ( )

The Waters and The Wild
by Mercedes Lackey & Rosemary Edghill
2019
BAEN books
3.5 / 5.0

Meet Olivia. A quiet, nerdy high school girl who is picked on alot. She believes that most people are basically always going to not include her. She is depressed. Her parents are heading to divorce, and their constant bickering has only gotten worse. Her one caveat: a popular handsome guy on the swim team, Blake, has been paying attention to her, and she believes he likes her. When Blake asks Olivia to go with his family to the lake for the summer, she begins to believe maybe she can be like all the other girls at school. Maybe she will one day be accepted. Her few friends warn her about Blake, and tell her not to go. Olivia sees it as a chance to feel like she is normal, fits in, and follows her heart. Olivia is going to Lake Endor for the summer.

Blake, of course, turns out to not be the guy Olivia has made him out to be in her mind. Still, she believes he really likes her. She blindly believes Blake. Olivia is left on her own all day, while Blake is training for the swim team. A special friendship she develops at the camp, re news her faith in friendship and loyalty, and also a love she an count on.

But there is something sinister below the waters of Lake Endor. It seems to want Olivia. Her new friends warn her the light is a portal, do not go near it. Olivia has to decide if she should follow the mysterious light of the lake, or the advice of her new friends. More than she realizes rests on her decision.

Sci-fi elements and shape changing make this book fun. Although the plot is predictable, the sci fi elements and the characters themselves are engaging and easy to fall into. Quick, fun read. ( )

A YA summer on the lake with strangeness yarn. I didn't find much in it that connected it with other Bedlam's Bard books, though I haven't read the most recent ones, and my memory is not great. That is not in any case a problem with this book, which is decently paced with acceptable level of characterization, though the lead's woozy headedness is a pain. ( )