Melissa’s Review: Salted by Aaron Galvin

Salted
written by Aaron Galvin
published by Createspace

find it here: (affiliate links) Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Smashwords, Book Depository, Goodreads

Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange  for an honest review.

Did I enjoy this book: TRIGGER ALERT:  Homophobic hate speech, racist hate speech.

I have some advice for Mr. Galvin:

1. DO NOT, even if you’re writing a “bad guy,” use the ugly, hateful words you’ve chosen to describe homosexuals, people with disabilities, or those of ethnic origins other than your character’s.  ESPECIALLY don’t do this if you’re marketing your book towards a Young Adult audience. I don’t care if the person saying these things is a villain.  Adults must lead by example, and the fact that anyone, fictional or otherwise, is still using these words (no matter what our intention) means they WILL be passed down to the next generation.  So. Very. Not. Cool.

2.  If you can’t write accents well, DON’T WRITE THEM (and similarly, if you’re going to quote Miranda rights, make sure you do so accurately).  Seriously.  I spent so much time trying to decipher how I was supposed to be pronouncing dialects that I couldn’t pay attention to the story, which leads me to . . .

3.  Wow.  Half-human/half-sea creatures going to the zoo.  With high school kids.  Props for originality, Mr. Galvin, but I’ll admit I found it a little less believable than I think you were intending.

 

Would I recommend it: No, not a bit. The hate speech alone should keep you (and your kids) away.

About the book – from Goodreads: Life isn’t better under the sea. Lenny Dolan is all too familiar with this reality. A Selkie slave in the realm beneath the waves, he has no choice when charged with leading a crew ashore to capture an elusive runaway. If unsuccessful, the loved ones kept behind will pay for his failure with their lives. But when their target leads Lenny and his crew to deeper, darker secrets, the Selkies are faced with a moral dilemma. Secure their own freedom at the expense of others, or return empty-handed to face the grisly consequences? How Lenny and his crew answer the question will teach them the harshest truth of all. Only through the loss of innocence does one become Salted.