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rebecca_bluedragonskeep_books's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
5.0
sonshinelibrarian's review
4.0
Another solid entry in this fairy tale retelling series. I liked the way Cellier twisted some of the little mermaid plot points and, of course, there is a happily ever after. I didn't really connect with Isla the way I have with others, but I still enjoyed the story.
allie_schick's review
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
kairosdreaming's review
4.0
I think this is one of my favorites in the series, just based on the different premise and adventure it had as compared to the others. As a remake of the Little Mermaid, I'm sure you can somewhat guess how different it was. And while I always recommend reading a series in order, you probably could get away with reading this as a stand-alone.
Isla has been pretty well stuck at home most of her life. The daughter of the King, their safety lies in their underwater home. While she has negotiated for guard duty that lets her leave those depths, the surface is still unavailable to her, and all she dreams of is the man she secretly rescued one night, and the adventure the surface brings.
Isla was by far the most adventurous heroine we've had so far. She was active and didn't let a whole lot stop her. While her love interest wasn't quite as developed, I still found their story engaging and sweet. I also enjoyed her uncle who accompanied her, as he provided some comic relief and was a great character in his own right.
Like all of these books, this is a quick read. The adventure moves it swiftly along. It's marketed towards young adults, and I would say its entirely appropriate for that age group. It's fun, light reading.
Nice addition to the series! I've continued to enjoy Cellier's books.
Review by M. Reynard 2020
Isla has been pretty well stuck at home most of her life. The daughter of the King, their safety lies in their underwater home. While she has negotiated for guard duty that lets her leave those depths, the surface is still unavailable to her, and all she dreams of is the man she secretly rescued one night, and the adventure the surface brings.
Isla was by far the most adventurous heroine we've had so far. She was active and didn't let a whole lot stop her. While her love interest wasn't quite as developed, I still found their story engaging and sweet. I also enjoyed her uncle who accompanied her, as he provided some comic relief and was a great character in his own right.
Like all of these books, this is a quick read. The adventure moves it swiftly along. It's marketed towards young adults, and I would say its entirely appropriate for that age group. It's fun, light reading.
Nice addition to the series! I've continued to enjoy Cellier's books.
Review by M. Reynard 2020
divensar's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
katherinejensen00's review
5.0
A Dreamer Ready to Fight for a Cause
Isla, despite being a princess of Merrita, is the often overlooked youngest child who doesn't fit in and dreams of a better future for her people. She tends to rush into things. She has a big heart and a sense of adventure. Isla's uncle/essentially older brother who is only a few years older than her, Ray, is less impulsive but also brave, adventurous, and humorous which are all traits he needs as he looks out for his niece. Teddy and Milly are twins who are also the prince and princess of Trione. Teddy is the minutes older crown prince who is also a dreamer, but has his feet firmly rooted in his beloved kingdom of Trione. He enjoys being in the middle of the action, but he also has a more fun-loving and laidback yet caring personality. Millie is a good contrast to her brother as she is more practical and down to earth. She is the more diplomatic of the two and does a good job of keeping her brother on track and making his dreams a reality.
The story focuses on Isla and Teddy, but Ray and Millie get plenty of adventure as well. There are other amazing supportive characters, such as Teddy and Millie's 12 year old sister, Daisy, who is spunky and observant. The descriptions of both kingdoms make the story even more imaginable and engaging. The plot and the setting show a lot of attention to detail. The story has lots of twists and turns as dangers are encountered in both kingdoms. Teddy and Isla need to learn how to balance dreams with reality both when saving a kingdom and falling in love. There are thoughtful insights nestled in between lots of adventure and some sweet romantic moments. The ending also has a lighthearted and thorough epilogue that wraps up the entire Beyond the Four Kingdoms series.
This would be a fun read for those who enjoy A Little Mermaid retellings, strong women, non-gory fight scenes, humor, enchantments, adventure, mermaids, clean romance, surprises, the fate of the kingdom level stakes, and strong supporting characters.
Isla, despite being a princess of Merrita, is the often overlooked youngest child who doesn't fit in and dreams of a better future for her people. She tends to rush into things. She has a big heart and a sense of adventure. Isla's uncle/essentially older brother who is only a few years older than her, Ray, is less impulsive but also brave, adventurous, and humorous which are all traits he needs as he looks out for his niece. Teddy and Milly are twins who are also the prince and princess of Trione. Teddy is the minutes older crown prince who is also a dreamer, but has his feet firmly rooted in his beloved kingdom of Trione. He enjoys being in the middle of the action, but he also has a more fun-loving and laidback yet caring personality. Millie is a good contrast to her brother as she is more practical and down to earth. She is the more diplomatic of the two and does a good job of keeping her brother on track and making his dreams a reality.
The story focuses on Isla and Teddy, but Ray and Millie get plenty of adventure as well. There are other amazing supportive characters, such as Teddy and Millie's 12 year old sister, Daisy, who is spunky and observant. The descriptions of both kingdoms make the story even more imaginable and engaging. The plot and the setting show a lot of attention to detail. The story has lots of twists and turns as dangers are encountered in both kingdoms. Teddy and Isla need to learn how to balance dreams with reality both when saving a kingdom and falling in love. There are thoughtful insights nestled in between lots of adventure and some sweet romantic moments. The ending also has a lighthearted and thorough epilogue that wraps up the entire Beyond the Four Kingdoms series.
This would be a fun read for those who enjoy A Little Mermaid retellings, strong women, non-gory fight scenes, humor, enchantments, adventure, mermaids, clean romance, surprises, the fate of the kingdom level stakes, and strong supporting characters.
eliza_dannie's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Princess of Wind and White
I absolutely loved this conclusion to the series. It’s got a gorgeous setting that I definitely would visit if it was real, and characters that I was rooting for the whole way. In this last installment, Isla is the youngest princess of Merrita, a kingdom that used to live above the waves but was cut off from the rest of the world and sealed below the ocean when the other kingdoms fell to darkness. Isla, however, is convinced that her kingdom needs to return to the surface before it’s too late. So, Isla sets off to explore the other kingdoms, along with her uncle/best friend Ray, in hopes of finding both a hope for kingdom as well as the boy whose life she saved three years ago.
Pros:
-Isla's character arc was beautifully done. Isla is a bit headstrong and determined and is known to her family as a dreamer. I loved how she still got pursue her dreams while also coming to realize that maybe she wasn't right about everything. She actively wants to make difference yet is sometimes foolish about how to do it, and a girl who can sing really well but also taught herself how to fight with a sword.
-The world building. In this story, the mer-kingdom is on the bottom of the sea under a huge bubble “barrier,” and they can go back and forth between air/ground and the water. I personally thought that it was a very nice decision to write the story that way, and I found it was more believable. Of course, a story about mermaids requires you to suspend your disbelief for a little while, but I found that the world building made more sense that way.
-The characters. Ray was a fantastic character and I loved seeing how he fit into the story, and I enjoyed that Teddy was a bit different than the other princes/love interests in the series. And the characters of her father and sister, as well as the world building of the different major families were well done.
-The plot. I love the fact that in this plot we get to see lots of both kingdoms, and I was definitely not expecting the reveal of the main villain. I half-expected to get annoyed with the story, since the whole part of the Little Mermaid where she can't talk or explain her identity has always slightly annoyed me, but instead this story's plot glided along smoothly and kept me engrossed.
Cons:
-The Trione court: Maybe it's just me, but I felt like I never got to meet enough characters in Trione. Like, do Teddy and Millie have any friends? Besides Gabe and the other royals who don't live there?
Anyway, please read it! It's a great story, even if you haven't read the rest of the series. Or just go read the rest of the series. 5/5 stars.
I absolutely loved this conclusion to the series. It’s got a gorgeous setting that I definitely would visit if it was real, and characters that I was rooting for the whole way. In this last installment, Isla is the youngest princess of Merrita, a kingdom that used to live above the waves but was cut off from the rest of the world and sealed below the ocean when the other kingdoms fell to darkness. Isla, however, is convinced that her kingdom needs to return to the surface before it’s too late. So, Isla sets off to explore the other kingdoms, along with her uncle/best friend Ray, in hopes of finding both a hope for kingdom as well as the boy whose life she saved three years ago.
Pros:
-Isla's character arc was beautifully done. Isla is a bit headstrong and determined and is known to her family as a dreamer. I loved how she still got pursue her dreams while also coming to realize that maybe she wasn't right about everything. She actively wants to make difference yet is sometimes foolish about how to do it, and a girl who can sing really well but also taught herself how to fight with a sword.
-The world building. In this story, the mer-kingdom is on the bottom of the sea under a huge bubble “barrier,” and they can go back and forth between air/ground and the water. I personally thought that it was a very nice decision to write the story that way, and I found it was more believable. Of course, a story about mermaids requires you to suspend your disbelief for a little while, but I found that the world building made more sense that way.
-The characters. Ray was a fantastic character and I loved seeing how he fit into the story, and I enjoyed that Teddy was a bit different than the other princes/love interests in the series. And the characters of her father and sister, as well as the world building of the different major families were well done.
-The plot. I love the fact that in this plot we get to see lots of both kingdoms, and I was definitely not expecting the reveal of the main villain. I half-expected to get annoyed with the story, since the whole part of the Little Mermaid where she can't talk or explain her identity has always slightly annoyed me, but instead this story's plot glided along smoothly and kept me engrossed.
Cons:
-The Trione court: Maybe it's just me, but I felt like I never got to meet enough characters in Trione. Like, do Teddy and Millie have any friends? Besides Gabe and the other royals who don't live there?
Anyway, please read it! It's a great story, even if you haven't read the rest of the series. Or just go read the rest of the series. 5/5 stars.