From Publishers Weekly
This imaginative debut book in the Water fantasy series stars an appealing, strong-willed 16-year-old who dreams of ascending to the Low Council that, conjointly with the High Council, rules Atlantis. Nia aspires to become an Avatar like her grandfather, one of 10 mermyds who pair off with a highly intelligent alien Farworlder to govern their underwater city. But Nia's Bluefin clan chooses Garun, her "hardly noticeable" cousin to represent them in the Trials, the contest to select a new council member. And Nia soon learns that her underwater city "is not quite the perfect and open place it seems." First, Nia discovers a secret prison holding an Avatar and his Farworlder, then she realizes that her grandfather is manipulating the trials in Garun's favor. Dalkey's intriguing marine world brims with descriptions of Atlantis and mermyd life, including details of the Trials and the ceremony joining Avatar and Farworlder not to mention the mystery surrounding Garun's likely ascension to the council. Some of the plotting, however, seems truncated next to all this exposition: for example, the alliance between Nia's boyfriend, Cephan, and the imprisoned Avatar could have been more clearly drawn, and readers never learn why Nia's family opposes her entering the Trials. Perhaps more will be revealed in the next installment, Reunion (due in April), but even given these vagaries, readers will relate to the heroine, from her jealousy of Garun to her excitement at seeing Cephan. There is enough intrigue right to the finish to keep this story afloat. Ages 12-up. Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grades 6-9--In this first of a projected trilogy, Dalkey takes readers under the sea to Atlantis, where merfolk live in the shelter of the great city. Atlantean society functions via a caste system and a complicated set of rules, aided by the presence of the Farworlder Kings, who each bond with a mermyd, referred to as Avatars, to help rule. Nia, 16, hopes to be selected by their clan chief to participate in the trials to choose a new Avatar, but to her horror, her boring cousin is given the honor. To pass the time until the trials are complete, Nia continues her job guarding the baby Farworlders, who resemble squids, and flirts with a handsome mermyd from the wrong side of the filtration tunnels. In this book, Dalkey seems to have lost her ability to make the fantastic leap off the page and appear possible. While Nia comes across as a teen who doesn't communicate well with her parents, the rest of the characters are flat. Even Cephan, her love interest who is predictably treacherous, lacks oomph. The plotting is fairly straightforward, but the inclusion of the Farworlder Kings and the details of the initiation seem overly convoluted. To muddy the waters even further, Dalkey is so earnest in her explanation of how Atlantis functions that her descriptions read more like a textbook than a finely crafted story. Give Dalkey's Heavenward Path (1998) and Little Sister (1996, both Harcourt) to readers who crave a taste of truly magical fantasy.Patricia A. Dollisch, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GACopyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Kirkus
“Dalkey creates a detailed and refreshingly original submerged society…will leave them clamoring for the next installment.”

ALA Booklist
“Pleasing amalgamation of mystery, romance, and magic. Nia is a lively, likable character.”

Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)
“Nia’s struggles with feelings of betrayal, disappointment, and budding romance are realistically depicted…Recommended for fantasy collections.”

Book Description
The sea is the birthplace of legends.

Nia, a young mermyd of the Bluefin clan, has had one wish all her life -- to be an Avatar in her beloved home of Atlantis. The ten Avatars rule the beautiful and peaceful undersea city alongside the ancient Farworlders, whose magic keeps their world alive. To be an Avatar is an honor and a great responsibility, and Nia dreams of taking her place among the noble ten.

Now, at sixteen, Nia has a chance to see her dream come true. Atlantis is choosing its next Avatar, and Nia knows she is supremely qualified.

But there is something Nia doesn't know -- if she gets her heart's desire, it could mean the end of her treasured world of Atlantis forever.

About the Author
Kara Dalkey is the author of several fantasy books, including Little Sister, The Nightingale, and Blood of the Goddess series. She lives in Gunnison, CO.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The sea is the birthplace of legends.

Nia, a young mermyd of the Bluefin clan, has had one wish all her life — to be an Avatar in her beloved home of Atlantis. The ten Avatars rule the beautiful and peaceful undersea city alongside the ancient Farworlders, whose magic keeps their world alive. To be an Avatar is an honor and a great responsibility, and Nia dreams of taking her place among the noble ten.

Now, at sixteen, Nia has a chance to see her dream come true. Atlantis is choosing its next Avatar, and Nia knows she is supremely qualified.

But there is something Nia doesn't know — if she gets her heart's desire, it could mean the end of her treasured world of Atlantis forever.

About the Author

Kara Dalkey is the author of several fantasy books, including Little Sister, The Nightingale, and Blood of the Goddess series. She lives in Gunnison, CO.

SYNOPSIS

PerfectBound e-book extra: The Making of the Water Trilogy, an essay by Kara Dalkey about the development of The Water Trilogy. The sea is the birthplace of legends.
Nia, a young mermyd of the Bluefin clan, has had one wish all her life - to be an Avatar in her beloved home of Atlantis.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

This imaginative debut book in the Water fantasy series stars an appealing, strong-willed 16-year-old who dreams of ascending to the Low Council that, conjointly with the High Council, rules Atlantis. Nia aspires to become an Avatar like her grandfather, one of 10 mermyds who pair off with a highly intelligent alien Farworlder to govern their underwater city. But Nia's Bluefin clan chooses Garun, her "hardly noticeable" cousin to represent them in the Trials, the contest to select a new council member. And Nia soon learns that her underwater city "is not quite the perfect and open place it seems." First, Nia discovers a secret prison holding an Avatar and his Farworlder, then she realizes that her grandfather is manipulating the trials in Garun's favor. Dalkey's intriguing marine world brims with descriptions of Atlantis and mermyd life, including details of the Trials and the ceremony joining Avatar and Farworlder not to mention the mystery surrounding Garun's likely ascension to the council. Some of the plotting, however, seems truncated next to all this exposition: for example, the alliance between Nia's boyfriend, Cephan, and the imprisoned Avatar could have been more clearly drawn, and readers never learn why Nia's family opposes her entering the Trials. Perhaps more will be revealed in the next installment, Reunion (due in April), but even given these vagaries, readers will relate to the heroine, from her jealousy of Garun to her excitement at seeing Cephan. There is enough intrigue right to the finish to keep this story afloat. Ages 12-up. (Feb.) Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

VOYA

Sixteen-year-old Nia is a young merymyd whose one desire is to be an Avatar in her home, the city of Atlantis. Avatars are paired in competition with Farworlders, whose magic maintains the city, to be the governing body. Nia's dream is shattered when her grandfather passes over her and chooses a cousin, Garun, to represent their clan in the trials. Nia is challenged further emotionally when the object of her affection, Cephan, is picked to represent his clan in the trials. Through their courting, Cephan introduces Nia to a person who should not exist, and Nia realizes that not everything is what it seems in the upcoming trials. Eventually, Nia discovers that an ancient prophecy suggests that her participation in the trials would bring about the end to her world, and the story ends with her appearing to be fulfilling the prophecy. Nia's struggle with feelings of betrayal, disappointment, and budding romance are realistically depicted. Nia's grandfather is crafted deftly as a well-intentioned adult trying to protect his world while being as honest as possible with his beloved granddaughter. The other characters seem one-dimensional, designed simply to move the plot forward. Although this novel is set in Atlantis, Dalkey fails in this first book of the Water series to catch the possible excitement and grandeur of the city's mystery. There are hints—the Farworlders are quite obviously alien beings—but the mystery is never fully realized. Recommended for fantasy collections, this novel will force readers to anticipate the next installment for answers. VOYA CODES: 3Q 3P M J (Readable without serious defects; Will appeal with pushing; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; JuniorHigh, defined as grades 7 to 9). 2002, Avon, 240p, $4.99 pb. Ages 11 to 15. Reviewer: Karen Jensen SOURCE: VOYA, February 2002 (Vol. 24, No.6)

KLIATT - Stacey Conrad

I love this new series about a mermaid who wants to be one of the Avatars who help to rule Atlantis. I have already had students race through reading this book, and they are anxiously awaiting the next two in the series, as am I. Nia, a 16-year-old mermaid, wants to go through the trials to determine who will become an Avatar, a merperson who is joined with one of the Farworlder Kings who live in the ocean with the merpeople. Her cousin instead is chosen to represent the clan and Nia is devastated. Her boyfriend, Cephan, is chosen to represent his clan. Then Nia discovers the contest has been fixed. The city is shut down by an Avatar who wants to rule on his own. She is cast ashore with the Farworlder infant king after having the joining ceremony performed on them. The Farworlder infant is found by a human and taken away. The book ends with Nia searching for the king, since without the two of them being together each will die. (Water, Book 1). KLIATT Codes: J￯﾿ﾽRecommended for junior high school students. 2002, HarperCollins, Avon, 236p.,

School Library Journal

Gr 6-9-In this first of a projected trilogy, Dalkey takes readers under the sea to Atlantis, where merfolk live in the shelter of the great city. Atlantean society functions via a caste system and a complicated set of rules, aided by the presence of the Farworlder Kings, who each bond with a mermyd, referred to as Avatars, to help rule. Nia, 16, hopes to be selected by their clan chief to participate in the trials to choose a new Avatar, but to her horror, her boring cousin is given the honor. To pass the time until the trials are complete, Nia continues her job guarding the baby Farworlders, who resemble squids, and flirts with a handsome mermyd from the wrong side of the filtration tunnels. In this book, Dalkey seems to have lost her ability to make the fantastic leap off the page and appear possible. While Nia comes across as a teen who doesn't communicate well with her parents, the rest of the characters are flat. Even Cephan, her love interest who is predictably treacherous, lacks oomph. The plotting is fairly straightforward, but the inclusion of the Farworlder Kings and the details of the initiation seem overly convoluted. To muddy the waters even further, Dalkey is so earnest in her explanation of how Atlantis functions that her descriptions read more like a textbook than a finely crafted story. Give Dalkey's Heavenward Path (1998) and Little Sister (1996, both Harcourt) to readers who crave a taste of truly magical fantasy.-Patricia A. Dollisch, DeKalb County Public Library, Decatur, GA Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews