Book Review: Teardrop by Lauren Kate
Title: Teardrop
Series: Teardrop Trilogy # 1
By: Lauren Kate
Author Info: Website | Twitter | Goodreads
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre Type: Fantasy, Paranormal, Mythology, Romance
Publication Date: October 22nd 2013
Pages: 441 pages
Format: Hardcover
Source: Bought
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Goodreads Summary
Never, ever cry... Seventeen-year-old Eureka won't let anyone close enough to feel her pain. After her mother was killed in a freak accident, the things she used to love hold no meaning. She wants to escape, but one thing holds her back: Ander, the boy who is everywhere she goes, whose turquoise eyes are like the ocean. And then Eureka uncovers an ancient tale of romance and heartbreak, about a girl who cried an entire continent into the sea. Suddenly her mother's death and Ander's appearance seem connected, and her life takes on dark undercurrents that don't make sense. Can everything you love be washed away?
WHY I WANTED TO READ THE BOOK
One of the reasons I was excited to pick up Lauren Kate's new series Teardrop was for it’s fantastic setting, the love story, and the unique twist the author puts on one of the most famous myths of all- Atlantis.
SETTING/WORLD BUILDING
Teardrop's combines two exciting settings. The Bayou where Eureka lives and the world of Atlantis. Both felt real and life like to me. Lauren Kate skillfully writes everyday details of Eureka's life and the Bayou that made me feel as if I was there. As far as the Atlantean myth, I was excited to see how it was going to be played out in the story. I wanted to be immersed into the water world and it's myth. Unfortunately, for all it's exciting build up there was little time spent with the actual mythical world of Atlantis. When we did get a few glimpses of it through flashbacks and The Book of Love, I thought it was fantastic.
THE STORY AND PLOT
Teardrop starts off great. We meet Ander, who is a seadbearer with ties to Eureka's past, right away in the opening prologue. Through his unique point of view and a mix of flashbacks, we get a sense of the upcoming danger Eureka will be in. Ander's early involvement in the story was one of the main reasons I liked the beginning of the book so much.
The story then switches to Eureka’s narrative after her mother's tragic accident where a rogue wave drowns her, leaving Eureka as the only survivor. The plot, although fascinating, seemed to move very slowly for me at this point. The mystery is revealed piece by piece, through a mysterious book called The Book of Love. Unfolding the separate story threads of why Eureka is told never to cry, her lineage to Selene's Tearline, Ander's involvement as a Seadbearer, and the Atlantean myth involving two ancient lovers, Leander and Selene. I thought I would love this part with all the exciting story threads coming together, but due to Eureka’s terrible survivor's guilt and her disconnected attitude towards everyone, it made it hard for me to connect with her and hard to wade through a large part of the book.
The ending was amazing but rushed, saving the book with it’s exciting cliffhanger and some amazing possibilities involving the Atlantean myth. I found it interesting how Lauren Kate used the intermingling story threads, the use of flashbacks, and a mysterious book that Eureka discovers, to unfold the Atlantean mystery in Teardrop, and why Eureka is told never to cry.
THE ROMANCE
First of, I just didn't feel much Swoon in Teardrop. Eureka does has two love interest. There's Ander who seems almost other-worldly with his possible ties to Eureka and the Atlantis myth. Then there is Eureka's best friend Brooks whom seems to have stronger than friends feeling for her.
CHARACTERS
I had a lot of highs and lows as far as my feelings towards Eureka. At the beginning of the story I could easily sympathize with her over the loss of her mother, and look past her often negativity. But her emotional unavailability and aloofness began to wear me down. I will say that she has a large turn around towards the last third of the story.
Noah Brook has been friends with Eureka since boyhood. I liked his character a lot, and enjoyed his friendship with Eureka. Unfortunately, he begins to act strangely towards the middle of the story.
Ander is know as a seadbearer with strange ties to Eureka and the Atlantis myth. I loved the beginning of the story where Anders love and devotion to Eureka was obvious. I thought it was disappointing when his character was gone for a long portion of the story, then suddenly appearing again.
WHAT I LIKED
The lush and descriptive writing of Teardrop. Lauren Kate can really bring to life a story's setting and creates a rich atmosphere for her characters.
WHAT I WANTED MORE OF
I wanted more time spent on Eureka's powers and her connection to the mythical world of Atlantis. I was frustrated at times at how long it was taking to get to the heart of the story.
RECOMMENDED FOR
Fans of Lauren Kate's writing. Overall I felt Teardop was a worthwhile read, and I'm still interested in the series. The cliffhanger and amazing possibilities involving the Atlantean myth left me wanting to know more about the story.
MY RATING 3 Stars. I liked it.
