sri_savita's review against another edition
4.0
Slow moving in the beginning but I like the darker elements and political plotlines and social hierarchy, they talk about some inter-species prejudice, and that was interesting. Ariel and Eric are both grown up with their own wounds that make them cautious and more realistic as characters than Ursula’s more vapid villainism. I found them both annoying in the Disney movie
megscozybookshelf's review against another edition
4.0
I had read this book while I was away on vacation last year - as a “Disnerd”, this book was spectacularly twisty in every which way and truly kept to The Little Mermaid Disney story. However, one thing that I felt about this tale - it was a bit drawn out and some moments I felt like the characters didn’t know how to interact with one another. While this did set the tone for much of the drama, there were certainly some parts that I felt it was too much character doing and not enough character building with one another. Otherwise, it was still a really fantastic read, and put me in an especially Disney summer mood! I feel like I would read this again for fun!
abanas's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
summerleco's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
caughtbetweenpages's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I don't have an overwhelming amount to say about this installation of the Twisted Tales series, other than I just had fun with it. Of the spectrum of twists available in these tales, this one is definitely closer to the side of "oh yeah, this is just like if one detail from the original film were different" rather than "I have reinvented the worldbuilding and mythology of this setting", which tends to be my preference. However, an element I found surprisingly compelling was that several years passed between the Failed HEA and the events of PoYW, which allowed Ariel to mature quite a bit as a character. Being given the role of Ruler of the Undersea in her father's stead and finding ways to adapt to her lack of voice were elements that lent themselves to a more dimensional character, one who still has the optimism and fascination with humanity elements of Original Ariel, but tempers her own desires to care for others and makes the selfless choice more often than not.
I further enjoyed the commentary of Ariel feeling invisible despite her role due to others talking over or around her despite her accommodations (undersea translators and sign language were really cool to read about), not only because it informed her future actions and decisions, but because I felt it was important to have that element of frustration at ableism acknowledged. Also, to have Ariel's muteness not just be a hindrance around speaking folks, but to have that new perspective be a boon sometimes, because she learns to be more measured in what she says, and more observant to boot, was neat. Not thrilled at the magical voice return, even though it cleaves to the original story a la Disney, not only because it feeds into an ableist trope but also because of the magic rules;
I liked the slower romance, especially the "second chance after we've both been fundamentally changed and scarred by our experiences" vibes for both Eric and Ariel. I feel like having them both more mature, magic touched, and fully aware of the circumstances re: Ariel's mermaidhood and etc. is a far healthier and more stable foundation for real feelings. I also liked that they both were very much on team "we can be in love later, for now we have kingdoms to save". It feels true based on Ariel's new role as Queen of the Sea. And Eric's backstory expanding to give additional context to the human world/his kingdom/geopolitics, since all of that takes a stronger role in this version of the story.
Where this story falls flat for me is Ursula, our antagonist. It's a huge disappointment, because she's one of the huge draws to the film; dynamic, proactive rather than just reactive, over the top, and full of backstory ripe for the picking. And that backstory and its tragedy is mentioned... in passing. We get to make the logical jumps of "of course a powerful entity banished from the relatively small and insular mer community would feel lots of resentment about her circumstances, and seeing Ariel fail up time and again and squander her own privileges would turn the knife", but the Ursula we're presented with loses so much of what makes her magic in the film. Rather than being clever and informed and conniving, she's woefully naive about human matters. Rather than being manipulative enough to get her way, she fails comically to even sway another teenage girl to do Ursula's bidding. She's shallow and forever chasing pretty, shiny things, rather than doing all she can to gain ultimate power and control. Are you seriously telling me that a sea sorceress, a witch, would spend years in the human lands and NOT learn all she could to better manipulate geopolitics to her whims? Really?
And Eric's chauvinist rant of "We're backwards here, as your husband all that is yours is mine actually, and I can have you institutionalized" really does suck. Misogyny isn't suddenly cool when you do it to a woman you don't like. And no, sending a traumatized servant girl to ambassador college doesn't make up for this.
But I really liked the mermaid lore incorporation, the undersea fey aspects of it all and the ties to the Greek pantheon. And I also liked our animal companions making cameos (lovely old Scuttle, and Max!! What a good boy!!). So we tip toward enjoyment overall.
I further enjoyed the commentary of Ariel feeling invisible despite her role due to others talking over or around her despite her accommodations (undersea translators and sign language were really cool to read about), not only because it informed her future actions and decisions, but because I felt it was important to have that element of frustration at ableism acknowledged. Also, to have Ariel's muteness not just be a hindrance around speaking folks, but to have that new perspective be a boon sometimes, because she learns to be more measured in what she says, and more observant to boot, was neat. Not thrilled at the magical voice return, even though it cleaves to the original story a la Disney, not only because it feeds into an ableist trope but also because of the magic rules;
Spoiler
there's a lot in the latter parts of the story talking about how earthbound magic differs from seabound magic and how the magics don't always work in the same ways when they're started in X location and brought to/intended to work in location Y. Because Ariel breaks the voice prison on land, rather than on/over water, shouldn't there be some sort of glitch? Given this new magical rule-set?I liked the slower romance, especially the "second chance after we've both been fundamentally changed and scarred by our experiences" vibes for both Eric and Ariel. I feel like having them both more mature, magic touched, and fully aware of the circumstances re: Ariel's mermaidhood and etc. is a far healthier and more stable foundation for real feelings. I also liked that they both were very much on team "we can be in love later, for now we have kingdoms to save". It feels true based on Ariel's new role as Queen of the Sea. And Eric's backstory expanding to give additional context to the human world/his kingdom/geopolitics, since all of that takes a stronger role in this version of the story.
Where this story falls flat for me is Ursula, our antagonist. It's a huge disappointment, because she's one of the huge draws to the film; dynamic, proactive rather than just reactive, over the top, and full of backstory ripe for the picking. And that backstory and its tragedy is mentioned... in passing. We get to make the logical jumps of "of course a powerful entity banished from the relatively small and insular mer community would feel lots of resentment about her circumstances, and seeing Ariel fail up time and again and squander her own privileges would turn the knife", but the Ursula we're presented with loses so much of what makes her magic in the film. Rather than being clever and informed and conniving, she's woefully naive about human matters. Rather than being manipulative enough to get her way, she fails comically to even sway another teenage girl to do Ursula's bidding. She's shallow and forever chasing pretty, shiny things, rather than doing all she can to gain ultimate power and control. Are you seriously telling me that a sea sorceress, a witch, would spend years in the human lands and NOT learn all she could to better manipulate geopolitics to her whims? Really?
And Eric's chauvinist rant of "We're backwards here, as your husband all that is yours is mine actually, and I can have you institutionalized" really does suck. Misogyny isn't suddenly cool when you do it to a woman you don't like. And no, sending a traumatized servant girl to ambassador college doesn't make up for this.
But I really liked the mermaid lore incorporation, the undersea fey aspects of it all and the ties to the Greek pantheon. And I also liked our animal companions making cameos (lovely old Scuttle, and Max!! What a good boy!!). So we tip toward enjoyment overall.
emiliamaria76's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
kdell1222's review against another edition
4.0
This book was okay kinda feel like some parts were stretched out but I feel like it was interesting it held my attention for the most part.
snippie99's review against another edition
3.0
*3.5
I liked this book, the writing was good and it’s something I’d like for my children to read when I have them. It was an interesting take on what could’ve happened if things went differently in the little mermaid.
I liked this book, the writing was good and it’s something I’d like for my children to read when I have them. It was an interesting take on what could’ve happened if things went differently in the little mermaid.
arabellasbooks's review against another edition
3.0
A fun twist after five years of an alternated ending to ‘The Little Mermaid’. This book was fast paced and engaging and I had a fun enough time but it is not a favourite (compared to the reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, for example) but I did still enjoy reading this and am glad to finally have it off my tbr as all these years.