Though practically a mermaid, Haelo Marley lives an otherwise ordinary life in San Diego, California. Sensing auras and summoning ocean currents are Candeon capabilities she's kept secret from the humans around her. But not everyone--including Haelo--is who they seem. When the memory of an underwater battle surfaces in her dreams, Haelo realizes there is more to her story than she thought. And Dagger, the only other Candeon at school, might have the answers she needs.
Haelo will risk her heart as she is thrust into a world of mercenaries and secrets, magic and special ops teams, legends and a hidden island palace. With the entire Candeon race depending on her, Haelo suddenly finds herself both a target and a key player in a game she's not sure she's willing to play.
This is the first book in a series and ends on a cliffhanger. It is clean (PG-rated), though not juvenile.
"What a wonderful find this book has been! It is rare in the world of young adult fantasy to find a book where the characters are so well-developed. But despite the fantastical premise of the book, I was completely sucked in to Haelo's world, feeling and believing in her struggles. Ms. Holladay has crafted an amazing story here and I can't wait for book 2!" --Nicole Van, author of the House of Oak series
"The story was well fleshed out, the writing was fantastic, and it definitely leaves you wanting more." -- Annette K. Larsen, author of the Books of Dalthia series
"One of my favourite YA fantasy reads this year. It's definitely hard to put down, the characters are ultra-relatable and the plot is well-sustained throughout the book. It's not your typical mermaid fantasy, btw, it's much better." -- Ricardo Fayet, founder of Reedsy.com
"Perfect summer read!!" -- Dimond Books
"This book surprised me in such a great way. The characters had depth, the plot had unexpected twists and turns, and the world it's built in was fleshed out and intriguing." -- Amazon Customer
"It's been a long time since I devoured a book like I have this one." -- Amazon Customer
"Although there is some mush and fluff in Hiding Haelo that women may like, the plot was more than intriguing enough to keep me (a man) turning the page. I'm proud to admit that I liked a mermaid book, and will be ready to pre-order the next book." -- Amazon Customer
"Throw all your preconceived notions about mermaids away, because Hiding Haelo is a completely unique and intense take on mermaid life. I loved all of the characters, and felt like I was sitting in on their conversations because Holladay made it all so real. . . . If you loved Twilight, you will love Hiding Haelo! If you hated Twilight, you will love Hiding Haelo!" -- Amazon Customer
"How do you know when you find a good book? You get it from the mail at 8pm at night and decide to read a few chapters and all of a sudden it's 1 am, you literally have to leave the book downstairs in your living room to make yourself go to sleep." -- Amazon Customer
