On Thursday, June 8, Robin Alvarez held a book signing at the local Barnes and Noble to promote and sell her newly released novel, When Oceans Rise, and greet her fans from her hometown of Corpus Christi. The book signing was from 2-4 p.m. and held a great turnout with a line all the way to the coffee counter.
“I was excited getting to have her sign my book in person and I enjoyed being there,” said senior Hannah Holbrooks, who attended the book signing as a fan of Alvarez’s writing.
There’s something special about Alvarez’s book that can be felt by anyone who lives in Corpus Christi–the book takes place here. The book goes into familiar details about Flour Bluff High School, Bob Hall Pier, Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi (TAMUCC), and many more places near and dear to citizens of Corpus Christi.
“I really enjoyed the setting of the book. I found myself happy to be able to visualize the scenes at the high school and around the (Flour) Bluff and Corpus area,” said recent graduate Estrella Reyna, who will be attending TAMUCC in the fall.
The book was well received, reaching #1 on Amazon twice and receiving reviews averaging to a 4.6 from Goodreads, a 4.8 from Barnes and Noble, a 4.7 from Amazon, and a 4.8 from Target.
“I’m only on chapter three, but so far it’s really good! Growing up in the area that the book is based on makes for a really neat reading experience,” said former English teacher and current journalism advisor Amy Brandewie.
The books synopsis reads “Submerged in a toxic relationship and disconnected from everyone, she turns to the sea to decide her fate. Its decision? Toss her to the sea witch.
“Seventeen-year-old Malaya is cursed. In her family, every girl’s first love ends in death after falling for someone evil. Good thing Malaya’s dream guy isn’t monstrous. Except the curse is real and preventing Malaya from noticing how much he has gaslit and isolated her until she can’t be saved. With no other options, the sea witch is the only one to help her. Bartering her voice for a new life where she and her abusive boyfriend never met, Malaya accidentally swaps places with an alternate timeline version of herself who didn’t make her mistakes. As she tries to undo the switch, the sea witch uses Malaya’s voice to unleash Filipino mythological creatures into the worlds.
“Can a champion, an alternate timeline sister, and Malaya fight these beasts and stop the sea witch before she destroys both timelines?”
In an address before the crowd at her book signing here in Corpus, Alvarez revealed her need to tell this story after nearly dying in a surfing accident while in a relationship with an abusive boyfriend, much like the main character Malaya. However in real life, there was no sea witch to take her out of the experience. She realized the depth of her situation after the accident and is better now.
This story is a call for people in the situation that Malaya faces to find help and realize that they aren’t alone, even if it feels like they are.
