The Singing Cove Kindle Edition

The Singing Cove is a beautifully-crafted tale of love and revenge. I love Nikki Martinez's lyrical writing style. This story will transport you to the Philippines, so strongly woven are the descriptions of people and places.I appreciate when a book challenges me by throwing in a word I don't know, and this book definitely did that with its cultural references and Taglish. (But do not fear that you need to read with a dictionary by your side, as the words are woven in a way that you can discern the essentials from context.)I recommend this book for anyone who loves folktales.

Not my usual cup of tea, but I was surprised how much I got into this in the end. It has a dreamy quality about it, and the author, Nikki Martinez, sweats every creative detail. Recommended.

The main character, Jo, felt so real to me. I'm not sure why, but she was such a deeply carved person that I couldn't help following her thoughts and emotions.Well done by Nikki Martinez!

I loved this book almost from the first poetic paragraph (and that was just the introduction). The author skillfully and thoughtfully weaves a tale of introspection, almost forgotten memories, family, and love with the practiced hand of an artisan. It has been a while since I read a book with such words and motion, a story with the ability to captivate and charm me as this book did.Ms. Martinez draws the reader in with descriptive paragraphs that engage the senses. The reader can almost smell the rain and the scent of the ocean, see the characters emerging from the book, hear the whisper of the bamboo stems or the rush of city traffic, and feel the splendour of new experiences. Turn the page and rush eagerly on to taste the tongue-tingling aroma of the fresh food market, the home cooked meals, and exotic gardens in each of her well thought out phrases. Added to this, the story and plot line move along at a good pace, leaving no chance for boredom or a drifting of attention.Pick up this book and prepare yourself for a wild ride. Understand that the words cannot be skimmed over; they deserve time to savour, to re-read, and to think deeply about.

A very interesting read! A stream-of-consciousness type story where you travel back through the memories of the main character, Joana, as she remembers The Cove in her village and the morning she exacted revenge against a friend. While the concept behind the story was certainly interesting, the sometimes too flowery, rushed thinking of the main character detracted from the story telling, and the characters often came across as unbelievable. This story is told more like a myth, so if you are into mermaid tales, this may be for you. The commentary on village life, particularly the descriptions of the food and other cultural elements, was also a treat.

This was an extremely engaging read from page one--entertaining and original. The author's writing style is very natural and fluid, weaving descriptions that are both vivid and somewhat surreal. The plot takes you by surprise. It makes you want to reread the story, just to see if there were clues and hints that you might have missed. Martinez creates rich, credible characters with very human behaviors and motives--not always likeable, but always believable. This is a book I can strongly recommend, and I'll probably be reading it a second time.

Goosebumps and folklore - that's what this book should be called!Till this book my only encounter with mermaids was with Walt Disney's Ariel...and boy are you in for a surprise! I loved the up and downs in this thrill ride book and how all the characters were deep and detailedand somehow they all felt familiar and personal. A great read!

The Singing Cove has a lyrical quality that is lacking in most books nowadays. The story is interesting crafted to keep you on the edge of your seat the entire book. A definite must read.