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taryn_a's review against another edition
5.0
This book. Man. I am a sucker for fairy tale retellings and princess stories and I've read a lot of them. But this one is something special. Which is extra impressive considering it's the 5th book in a series in a series that's a sequel to another 4 book series. Usually by this point, the author is running out of ideas, but not here. Not by a long shot.
This is a beautiful retelling of a beloved tale, but with some amazing changes and twists. I don't want to give away the story, but the underwater world that was created was delightful and the biggest complaint about the story of The Little Mermaid is taken care of very well--she doesn't change for a man. ;) She has bigger fish to fry. Not sure if that's a bad line since she's a mermaid...
And don't let the "young adult" tag fool you. There is some beautiful depth to the relationships and the growth of the characters. One section in particular really nailed me between the eyes in my own relationships.
"Teddy might sometimes be too abstracted to notice my emotions, but he no sooner thought of a kindness than he acted on it. Could I really accuse him of being thoughtless?... But how could I love his ability to sit by my side for hours while we lost ourselves in the wild beauty of a storm, and then turn around and get offended when he got lost in his own thoughts at other times? I had been treating Teddy like a dream, not a person, and I had nearly destroyed the real friendship I was building with these two actual people because of it."
This is a beautiful retelling of a beloved tale, but with some amazing changes and twists. I don't want to give away the story, but the underwater world that was created was delightful and the biggest complaint about the story of The Little Mermaid is taken care of very well--she doesn't change for a man. ;) She has bigger fish to fry. Not sure if that's a bad line since she's a mermaid...
And don't let the "young adult" tag fool you. There is some beautiful depth to the relationships and the growth of the characters. One section in particular really nailed me between the eyes in my own relationships.
"Teddy might sometimes be too abstracted to notice my emotions, but he no sooner thought of a kindness than he acted on it. Could I really accuse him of being thoughtless?... But how could I love his ability to sit by my side for hours while we lost ourselves in the wild beauty of a storm, and then turn around and get offended when he got lost in his own thoughts at other times? I had been treating Teddy like a dream, not a person, and I had nearly destroyed the real friendship I was building with these two actual people because of it."
toriedawn1's review against another edition
5.0
This was a good retelling. I felt this story really developed Isla (who is our little mermaid) as a character. When you compare this book to the Disney version of the little mermaid there are so many similarities but there is just so much more going on in this version. The characters actually have depth for one, there is a mystery to unravel, the bad guy isn't obvious and presented to us from page one. I really liked Teddy (our Eric) and his twin. I would very much reccomend this series and I can't wait to read the earlier series that goes with it in the new year.
leahegood's review against another edition
4.0
Isla, youngest daughter of the king of the sea, has always longed for the surface. She wants to feel the sun and wind, but most of all, she wants to see her Ocean Boy again--the land dweller she once rescued from drowning. But the surface is said to be a place of darkness. Darkness the merfolk were sheltered from when their city sank beneath the waves. Isla is convinced the High King is sending tremors to warn them it is time to rise from beneath the waves, but her father refused to acknowledge her concerns as more than the manipulative fancies of a dreamer-child.
This is the first retelling of "The Little Mermaid" I've read, and since I've never watched the Disney movie either (only a few clips at my great-grandma's house when I was little), it was pretty much my first impression of the full story ever. Though I can tell it's significantly different from the Disney version, my first impression was a good one.
Isla is impetuous and a bit defiant, but she does not go against her father's wishes flippantly. She has no desire to hurt him or go against him. I appreciated that. I also appreciate the fact that the love story, though central, was not all consuming. And, consistent with Cellier's other books, the romance never goes past a few kisses.
I'm not sure if there are more books planned for this series, but the ending felt like a good resting place for the series as well as this particular story.
This is the first retelling of "The Little Mermaid" I've read, and since I've never watched the Disney movie either (only a few clips at my great-grandma's house when I was little), it was pretty much my first impression of the full story ever. Though I can tell it's significantly different from the Disney version, my first impression was a good one.
Isla is impetuous and a bit defiant, but she does not go against her father's wishes flippantly. She has no desire to hurt him or go against him. I appreciated that. I also appreciate the fact that the love story, though central, was not all consuming. And, consistent with Cellier's other books, the romance never goes past a few kisses.
I'm not sure if there are more books planned for this series, but the ending felt like a good resting place for the series as well as this particular story.
scarletthills's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-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? Yes
3.5
scolt81's review against another edition
5.0
This has been the best of the series. The adventure, the longing, the mystery. Superb!
shaekin's review against another edition
5.0
This is probably my favorite in the Beyond the Four Kingdoms set. The plot is fantastic and the character is fun. Glad it seems to be back on track!
themoonphoenix's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-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? Yes
3.5
nurseshan24's review against another edition
4.0
The Little Mermaid is one of my very favorite fairy tales, and I'm happy to say this is my favorite reimagining of this beautiful story! Melanie Cellier's creative twists brought the story to life for me in a very creative way! Thoroughly enjoyed it!