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geohawk's review against another edition
3.0
It has been a long time since I've read Baum, and I've never read a book outside of the primary Oz series. So Trot and Cap'n Bill aren't total strangers to me, and the behavior of the mermaids doesn't seem like much of a surprise. The book takes it time getting to the primary antagonist, Zog (an unfortunate name, these days), a wizard of sorts. There is real and unpleasant danger for the protagonists, but it is handled tidily, though I suppose it might have been more pleasing if the mermaid queen had been able to resolve the situation herself.
I don't know how much I'll be returning to Baum or his creations in the future, depending largely on the interests of my kids, I suppose.
I don't know how much I'll be returning to Baum or his creations in the future, depending largely on the interests of my kids, I suppose.
lory_enterenchanted's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
2.0
I wanted to read this after The Scarecrow of Oz, to see how Trot and Cap'n Bill are introduced. This really very lackluster Baum, there is no tension as the characters are assured nothing can hurt them when protected by fairy power. The first part is just a tour of some uninteresting underwater folk (opportunity for bad puns), and the second part after they are captured by an evil villain is still not very exciting or challenging.
It did make me wonder why in "Scarecrow" Trot did not use the magic ring she was given by the mermaid queen to ask for help, either when sucked down by the whirlpool or when stuck in the cave. Of course, that would have spoiled the rest of the story.
It did make me wonder why in "Scarecrow" Trot did not use the magic ring she was given by the mermaid queen to ask for help, either when sucked down by the whirlpool or when stuck in the cave. Of course, that would have spoiled the rest of the story.
monarchbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
This was cute and I liked Captain Bill's arc but it wasn't really anything special
gkcnoble's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Death, Suicide, Violence, and Religious bigotry
saroz162's review against another edition
3.0
Although far from being Baum's best fantasy, The Sea Fairies has an easy charm - magnified, I'm sure, if you're a small child growing up on the California coastline. The first half of the novel is pure underwater tour, sending the reader to look up antiquated and euphemistic terms for various sea creatures; the plot doesn't really kick in until chapter 11, when the protagonists are captured by a soft-spoken, genteel adversary who might as well be Satan by another name. In a slightly disquieting set of chapters, we meet the slaves he has made from sailors presumed drowned, and our heroes are nearly boiled alive and frozen to death in his attempts to gain the upper hand. Everything ends happily, but it all gets a bit dark for a book that otherwise seems to be for very small children.
The Sea Fairies lacks the awkward stop - start - stop - start inconsistency that plagues some other Baum books of the period, but it's still easy to see why this wasn't a huge seller. Fortunately, even a lesser Baum book still boasts many aspects to enjoy, and illustrator John R. Neill seems to have been inspired to draw incredibly glamorous, even sensual mermaids. It's a gorgeous book, particularly in its original edition with two-tone color plates.
The Sea Fairies lacks the awkward stop - start - stop - start inconsistency that plagues some other Baum books of the period, but it's still easy to see why this wasn't a huge seller. Fortunately, even a lesser Baum book still boasts many aspects to enjoy, and illustrator John R. Neill seems to have been inspired to draw incredibly glamorous, even sensual mermaids. It's a gorgeous book, particularly in its original edition with two-tone color plates.
corvinaq's review against another edition
3.0
Bizarre but engaging story of the adventures of "Cap'n Bill" and "Trot" under the sea with the mermaids. Trot is an anti-heroine before her time as rude remarks and judginess are her usual response to meeting ocean creatures. The dialogue is cringeworthy but occasionally funny and the ocean creatures are inventive.
janeofalltrades's review against another edition
1.0
I wanted more from this story. It started out interesting enough with a sea captain and little girl getting invited by mermaids to venture under the sea.
But once they were underwater nothing really happened. They kept meeting new creatures until finally encountering a big baddie. Unfortunately because the mermaids literally say they are invulnerable, due of magic, there was no conflict or danger in the story. Overall it was whimsical, but boring.
But once they were underwater nothing really happened. They kept meeting new creatures until finally encountering a big baddie. Unfortunately because the mermaids literally say they are invulnerable, due of magic, there was no conflict or danger in the story. Overall it was whimsical, but boring.
tilikon's review against another edition
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
kristinasshelves's review against another edition
3.0
This was cute, and at times quite witty, but overall it's not as good as Oz. I doubt I'll remember anything about this a year from now, but I'm glad the audiobook is part of Hoopla's Bonus Borrows this month so I could read something new from Baum