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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
Diary of a Radical Mermaid by Deborah Smith



Belle Books, July 2004, 14.95, 234 pp.
ISBN 0967303575

The race of Mers lives in, on, or by the sea but they do not have tails or shift from half human to human and back again. They are very strong physically and are able to speak telepathically with their own kind and the high order of sea creatures. June Lee Pourfox is on probation because she squelched a deal between Donald Trump and a Mer. She is in the custody of Lilith who asks her to bring Molly Reve, a famous writer who tells stories about mermaids to Bellmede a seaside town right across from Seinte's Point Island.

Molly, who suffers from leukemia and damaged legs, fears that her cat is going to die any day of old age. She is a floater, a person with Mer blood running through her veins but is unaware of her heritage. June Lee kidnaps Molly and brings her to the home of her clan where she meets Rhymer. He is a Mer who is protecting his three neices from their father, a sleeper much more powerful than Singers like Molly and Rhymer. He believes the swimmer killed his sister and is doing his best to keep his nieces away from him. Rhymer and Molly fall in love and through his affections, she comes into her powers as a Mer and is physically blessed and ready to battle with the swimmer.

This romantic fantasy is a combination of romance, chick-lit and conspiracy thriller.   DIARY OF A RADICAL MERMAID is a cross between Lara Croft's Tomb Raider and Daryl Hannah's Splash.

Harriet Klausner


Plot & Themes
Tone of book - very upbeat
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy story on current Earth
Romance Yes
Romance plotlets: - two lovers coping with tough mission
Magical Beings/Mental/Magical/Powers Yes
magical powers:
Is this an adult or child's book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Family relations Yes
Descript. of chases or violence - 10 %
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 40 %
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 40 %
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 %

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status:
Age: - 20's-30's

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - long-lived adults
Profession/status:
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a moderate amount
How sensitive is this character?
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters

Setting
Earth setting: - current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Writing Style
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How much dialogue? - significantly more dialog than descript
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