I don't know how many mermaid books I have read this year. Honestly, I have read quite a few and each one is different from the other. It's actually interesting being able to read different takes and versions of mermaid stories. I've always loved Disney's The Little Mermaid. So, I was just so happy to find out that this book is a retelling of the same fairy tale though it's more on Hans Christian Andersen's version.
This is a totally different version of Disney or Anderson's version. I think it's actually a refreshing adaptation which puts the famous Little Mermaid star on a darker shade. Yes, in this retelling, The Little Mermaid's story did not have a happy ending which provides a background story of how Lia's story came to be. So, following the events after The Little Mermaid's last action to claim her one true love, a war broke out in the mermaid kingdom. As an aftermath of that war, some Mer people decided to leave and stay on land and hide their identities.
I think, the thing that strikes me most about the story is the author's version of The Little Mermaid's story. I was impressed. I like it. I like it because it's such a very unexpected turn of events. It somehow puts The Little Mermaid in such a bad light that had caused a series of unfortunate events for her descendants and the rest of the Seven Seas. I think it's such a radical way of setting the stage for this retelling but I think it really works. It's totally an out-of-the-box way to put it and I just love it because it's so unforeseen. I would never have thought to actually think of the story going that way, especially, on my favorite fairy tale character and story. I don't know how many times I've watched The Little Mermaid or sang the OST and imagining I was Ariel. I'm just totally impressed by the background story. I just can't stress that enough.
Lia's character is very relatable because she's going through the same things teenagers are dealing with. Though, I'm sure, no one can relate to being a Mermaid on land. Anyways, she's been a really good teenager until she's forced to break the rules when the new girl seems to have a bigger chance of ending up with the boy she wants. It's a normal teenage love triangle until the secrets and the darker elements were added in. The competition now comes with much more devastating consequences. And the game changes because it's not just about natural charms and wit anymore, it's more than that. It's a much more threatening display of powers and abilities that is beyond the reaches of dry land. So, Lia is forced to tap into her family's ancient abilities and secrets to even up the playing field. The one that she was sworn to never ever do.
I love that this story has a mix of intrigue and mystery. I enjoyed Caspian and Lia playing detective. I also love that most of the characters in the story are named after precious stones. The last name Nautilus is also very perfect. It reminds me of Captain Nemo's submarine in Jules Verne's 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I enjoyed that story and the series adaptation SeaQuest very much. May Jonathan Brandis and Roy Scheider rest in peace.
Ah, this is very exhilarating. It's refreshing. I give this book 5/5 swimsuits. I just love how this was adapted to the original Andersen story. Yes, sometimes happy endings are overrated and finding another story with a totally unique twist is just so entertaining. I can't wait for the next book. Good thing I already have it with me courtesy of Month9Books. I will soon dive into the world of Lia and her friends again.
How can you narrow down to a few paltry words something that means everything?
- Tobie Easton, Emerge -
