A review by vanadiumbean
The Mermaid's Sister by Carrie Anne Noble

slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

A book I wanted to like, but which ultimately disappointed me. On a technical level, I felt like parts of the resolution and moments where backstory is revealed were awkwardly placed and under-utilized. I also felt like the theme of wishing versus taking action was poorly developed and and awkwardly alluded to by having things the main character was wishing for  tacked in at the end of chapters, like, we get it. The dialogue was also a little clunky and lackluster. 
On a content-based note, I hated that the author solely referred to rromani people using a racial slur, and exotified them. There's also a weird thread of the MC being fixated on manners and being a good proper girl as well as on modesty that felt more like it came from the author than from being a character detail. Finally, minor spoilers here,
I hated that 2 out of the 3 main antagonists in the final half of the book are people of color. The villains being an abusive white man with a traveling side show and his subservient Indian wife and son. His family is exoticised. His son is murderous and regularly makes sexually charged comments to the MC. It's racist and it sucks!
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