The Mermaid's Tale
(Chronicles of the Undersea Realm #1)
By L. E. Richmond
YA Fantasy, Fairy Tale Retelling
Audiobook, Hardcover & eBook, 288 Pages
October 10, 2023 by Enclave Escape
Summary
A Tail Could Tell a Tale
Locklyn Adair has never fit in. The legs she inherited as a result of her great-great-grandmother’s curse make it impossible for her to belong under the sea. When her niece is also born without a tail, Locklyn is determined to save her from similar rejection by sending her to the only place in the Undersea Realm where legs are acceptable—the Lost Island of Atlantis.
Darin Aalto would do anything to protect his family, even spearheading an impossible quest to find treasure that has been lost for over a hundred years. But when his best friend, Locklyn, joins his crew, his ability to keep her safe—and his shot at winning her heart—comes perilously close to being swept away.
A family curse, lost treasure, unrequited love, and a race against time intertwine as Locklyn and Darin seek to save their family, their kingdom, and eventually the entire Undersea Realm without losing each other.
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My Review
THE MERMAID'S TALE is about a girl who lives as an outcast in her community because she was born with legs instead of a tail like most other mermaids. It's also about the merman who has loved her for years and wants to protect her but is afraid of risking their friendship for something more. And it's a tale of a lost treasure, unsurmountable odds, villains and enemies both within and without while this motley group tries to save their kingdoms. Fans of mermaid and fantasy tales will enjoy this imaginative world under the sea.
The author definitely made this story her own and did a good job of it. The characters were relatable, complex and flawed, likable and all had their own reasons for joining the quest. The story moves at a steady pace without many lulls, so I was kept engaged in what was happening. I also liked that everything didn't tie up all prettily at the end, which made it feel more realistic. I know. It's a mermaid fantasy. But still. I liked the plot and how the author worked through the retelling, with all the challenges the characters faced and what they had to do to find what they were seeking.
I also had some issues. Some of the characters felt very young to me for their backgrounds. Character consistency and characters acting as they should according to their backgrounds is one of my pet peeves. That could have been done a lot better here or the backgrounds changed a bit to allow for the maturity of all the characters. They kind of all came across as the same age, somewhere between 14 and 18. I think a lot of that had to do with the drama, so maybe if that was ramped down, it would have been better. My other issue was the love triangle. I'm not a fan of those and this one felt pretty contrived. Otherwise, the story worked for me.
In the end, was it what I wished for? I liked these characters, this interesting underwater world, and the overall creative retelling of The Little Mermaid. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book.
Content: Some suggestive references, torture and violence.
Source: Purchased. All opinions are my own.
Other Books in the Series
(Linked to my review.)
Have you read other Little Mermaid retellings or mermaid stories? Will you be reading this one?
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