Reviews

Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey, Monique Roffey

fordec26's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Something a little different, interesting read of love, sadness, and reolution

lauraslittlebooknook's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional inspiring mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed this one.

Roffey tells us the story of Aycayia, a young women cursed into a mermaid by the women in her community because of her youth and beauty. When Aycayia is caught off the coast of Black Conch by a group of American tourists, David, a local fisherman, can’t bear to see her tied up and sold off, and steals her in the dead of night. 

What follows is a story of friendship and found family, with some deeper, darker themes of colonialism, racism, isolation and more.

This really was a lovely modern retelling of the classic mermaid mythology, with some wholesome and loveable characters, a little dark fantasy and a lot of poetic writing.

However, I wasn’t overly keen on some of the sexualised descriptions of Aycayia - possibly because these were written from David’s perspective. 

Other than that one small thing, I really enjoyed this story!

frankied1's review against another edition

emotional

4.0

jaysfly's review against another edition

dark mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

tasneemm's review against another edition

4.0

Well written, interesting story, lush visuals. 

ele_anorhurt's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

sarah_in_scotland's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

lillymvb's review against another edition

mysterious sad fast-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? No

4.5

juliehunt77's review against another edition

emotional inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

izzy_dan's review against another edition

adventurous reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75