authorbridgetvde's review
5.0
The Little Mermaid meets The Hunger Games? YES PLEASE!
The only thing that disappointed me about this book was that I wanted it to keep going! I loved the intricacies of the story, all the backstories and myths, and how Abigail has created a world that will be so fun to explore as she continues to write more Siren books! I used every spare moment I had to read and I just couldn't put it down!
LOVED IT!
The only thing that disappointed me about this book was that I wanted it to keep going! I loved the intricacies of the story, all the backstories and myths, and how Abigail has created a world that will be so fun to explore as she continues to write more Siren books! I used every spare moment I had to read and I just couldn't put it down!
LOVED IT!
w_xinnie's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a little mermaid retelling that I was excited for. But it kind of fell flat.
The Tournament is pretty much all the characters talk about, but it only started at 55% of the book. You go more than half of the book seeing the characters talking and prepping for the tournament but not doing it.
And then it started and it was abit underwhelming. You understand that there is a lot to tell but the dynamic between the characters is too fast compared to the plot.
I skimmed the last pages because I didn't even want to know what was happening. I felt like 318 pages is not really long but it felt like forever.
The Tournament is pretty much all the characters talk about, but it only started at 55% of the book. You go more than half of the book seeing the characters talking and prepping for the tournament but not doing it.
And then it started and it was abit underwhelming. You understand that there is a lot to tell but the dynamic between the characters is too fast compared to the plot.
I skimmed the last pages because I didn't even want to know what was happening. I felt like 318 pages is not really long but it felt like forever.
ryann2011's review
5.0
Hunger Games meets Little Mermaid with rival royalty and a ton of heart pounding action. I absolutely devoured this book. I read it in a single sitting and loved every minute of it. The tournament was especially incredible. From a killer Labyrinth to giant spiders and hydras….the action didn’t stop and it made for a wild ride!!
I loved the determination Saoirse had to help her people and better the world and Rook was the perfect blend of warrior with a heart of gold and a desire to find the truth. These 2 had such angst and tension, true enemies-to-lovers vibes
I loved the determination Saoirse had to help her people and better the world and Rook was the perfect blend of warrior with a heart of gold and a desire to find the truth. These 2 had such angst and tension, true enemies-to-lovers vibes
thebookkeepers's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
2.0
This book missed the mark for me. I would’ve DNF but since it was a postal book club read I pushed through to the end. While I like the premise of Little Mermaid + Hercules mash up, it was speckled with plot holes and unresolved story threads. Plus the romance arc was nonexistent and went from enemies to lovers without any substantial conversations or growth, I just didn’t buy it. The world building started off lovely with intense imagery but remained only that surface level of detail & we didn’t get the deeper world building I seek in fantasy. That said, our group had ratings up to 5 star so I was in the minority here 😂 but this one just wasn’t for me.
carleneslibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
This was a fun Little Mermaid retelling! I enjoyed the twists that the tournament brought and the world building, and I thought the plot was intriguing and well executed. The beginning was a little slow for me but once the initial worldbuilding and stakes were established I enjoyed the story.
The romance was also paced pretty well for me, and I really believed and got invested in it. It was completely clean too, something I look for in YA books.
The only thing that's disappointed me is its not a standalone book, and I went into it thinking it was 🙈 I don't know how many more books come after it but it's set up for at least one more, so if you're like me and you don't like to read a series until all the books are out, I'd wait on this one until the next one is out. If that doesn't bother you though, I enjoyed the book and had a good time reading it!
The romance was also paced pretty well for me, and I really believed and got invested in it. It was completely clean too, something I look for in YA books.
The only thing that's disappointed me is its not a standalone book, and I went into it thinking it was 🙈 I don't know how many more books come after it but it's set up for at least one more, so if you're like me and you don't like to read a series until all the books are out, I'd wait on this one until the next one is out. If that doesn't bother you though, I enjoyed the book and had a good time reading it!
miranda__'s review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
kkelley_28's review against another edition
5.0
The writing in this book was phenomenal! I felt transported to the world of Revelore. The history between all the nations created an interesting and mysterious story.
Saoirse is such a strong character. The rich history of her people was the perfect fuel to her deal with the sea witch. But as sea witches go… Nevertheless it was incredible to see her grow from caring solely about the tournament to valuing the life of her enemy. The enemies to lovers trope is one of my favorites and it’s well written.
This book is full of secrets and deception. It’s amazing. I highly recommend reading it!!
Saoirse is such a strong character. The rich history of her people was the perfect fuel to her deal with the sea witch. But as sea witches go… Nevertheless it was incredible to see her grow from caring solely about the tournament to valuing the life of her enemy. The enemies to lovers trope is one of my favorites and it’s well written.
This book is full of secrets and deception. It’s amazing. I highly recommend reading it!!
heartshapedbookmark's review against another edition
5.0
OMG !!!! this was so freaking good !!!!
i loved the way she retold the little mermaid SO much, i never read a little mermaid retelling and omg i want more.
It very much gave the hunger games when leading towards the competition, but also super small details that reminded me of the movies so so much, BUT it also gave the goblet of fire during the competition and i loved that SO MUCH !!!!
i need book 2 NOW !!
i loved the way she retold the little mermaid SO much, i never read a little mermaid retelling and omg i want more.
It very much gave the hunger games when leading towards the competition, but also super small details that reminded me of the movies so so much, BUT it also gave the goblet of fire during the competition and i loved that SO MUCH !!!!
i need book 2 NOW !!
makkapakka12's review
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
opheliakjames's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. I liked this book and thought it was very well written. The plot continued forward and the characters were lovely. I think I would have liked this book more if I had been in the fantasy mood, but I didn’t think about that when I started it. Overall I would recommend to people who love high stakes fantasy drizzled with romance.