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3.93 AVERAGE
3.93 AVERAGE
This book is a veryyyy slow read. It is also labeled as a dark Little Mermaid retelling, but I had trouble connecting where the inspiration to the story until, quite literally, 50% of the way into the book. Before that, much of the story actually sounds like it’s referencing Peter Pan. We have Hook, Smith, and even a wizard named Pascal (Tangled reference?).
I’m also calling it here. I’m 50% done with the book and I have too many questions and not enough answers to really make sense of what I’m reading. There is a mysterious bounty on Hooks head, but not much is known as to who placed the bounty and why. Arie is beginning to lust after Hook, but there is very little backstory there for me to root for them. Pascal refers to them as lovers, but they’ve done nothing but pretend to be inconvenienced by one another that I can’t agree with this. It’s also very much “I’m going to pretend to dislike you even though I won’t admit to why”, which adds to the confusion for the reader. Pascal also refers to Arie as “little dove” and while Arie never tells him to stop calling her that, it’s quite odd that someone is using a pet name who isn’t her lover. If he does become her lover it’ll be out of left field, even more of a surprise than the AriexHook pairing.
Arie has one goal: to kill the Leviathan. Virtually no one knows what the beast is because only Hook has lived to tell the tale. Prior to engaging with Hook, how was Arie planning on recognizing this beast?
It is also worth noting the ping-pong’ing between characters. What I mean is this: Arie has to go to track down the beast and she needs to bring Pascal with her. Arie and Pascal have never seen this beast, but Hook has. Hook doesn’t know where to find him, but says he knows a guy who might. Jameson is this guy. Jameson doesn’t know where to find the beast, but knows a guy who might have information. Said guy, a Brotherhood, knows that the answer to the question lies in Aries home. At Arie’s home, Hook mentions knows a guy who might know how to find the beast. Again, cue Jameson. Jameson knows a sea witch who can make you a deal to-. Do you see what I’m saying? No one has any answers, you’re just following the next person who’s been referred to you. This, combined with an ever growing ensemble cast, makes for a confusing storyline.
Furthermore, how much time is the king giving Arie again? Traveling via boat isn’t quick, but yet there isn’t much pressure from Arie to speed things up.
I would also question what is dark about the story? The bar fight? Because the darkest thing to happen was a decapitation, but I wouldn’t call it dark since it was relatively quick and there wasn’t much emphasis on the brutality of such an act.
I did receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
With all of that being said, what I did like was how the world was built. The description was done very well and I actually felt like I was there alongside Arie on her ship! I just wish such attention was put on the rest of the story.
I’m also calling it here. I’m 50% done with the book and I have too many questions and not enough answers to really make sense of what I’m reading. There is a mysterious bounty on Hooks head, but not much is known as to who placed the bounty and why. Arie is beginning to lust after Hook, but there is very little backstory there for me to root for them. Pascal refers to them as lovers, but they’ve done nothing but pretend to be inconvenienced by one another that I can’t agree with this. It’s also very much “I’m going to pretend to dislike you even though I won’t admit to why”, which adds to the confusion for the reader. Pascal also refers to Arie as “little dove” and while Arie never tells him to stop calling her that, it’s quite odd that someone is using a pet name who isn’t her lover. If he does become her lover it’ll be out of left field, even more of a surprise than the AriexHook pairing.
Arie has one goal: to kill the Leviathan. Virtually no one knows what the beast is because only Hook has lived to tell the tale. Prior to engaging with Hook, how was Arie planning on recognizing this beast?
It is also worth noting the ping-pong’ing between characters. What I mean is this: Arie has to go to track down the beast and she needs to bring Pascal with her. Arie and Pascal have never seen this beast, but Hook has. Hook doesn’t know where to find him, but says he knows a guy who might. Jameson is this guy. Jameson doesn’t know where to find the beast, but knows a guy who might have information. Said guy, a Brotherhood, knows that the answer to the question lies in Aries home. At Arie’s home, Hook mentions knows a guy who might know how to find the beast. Again, cue Jameson. Jameson knows a sea witch who can make you a deal to-. Do you see what I’m saying? No one has any answers, you’re just following the next person who’s been referred to you. This, combined with an ever growing ensemble cast, makes for a confusing storyline.
Furthermore, how much time is the king giving Arie again? Traveling via boat isn’t quick, but yet there isn’t much pressure from Arie to speed things up.
I would also question what is dark about the story? The bar fight? Because the darkest thing to happen was a decapitation, but I wouldn’t call it dark since it was relatively quick and there wasn’t much emphasis on the brutality of such an act.
I did receive an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
With all of that being said, what I did like was how the world was built. The description was done very well and I actually felt like I was there alongside Arie on her ship! I just wish such attention was put on the rest of the story.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-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
I was given a copy of this book by the author (thank you!) but now that disclosure out let’s go on a sea voyage for this review.
A Sea of Unfortunate Souls is a Little Mermaid meets Peter Pan retelling, and holy smokes did this book deliver! I could not put it down, I finished this book in a day.
I loved everything about the way Jay R Wolf described her world, I felt like I was on the boat right along with the main characters. Speaking of the main characters, they were so flushed out… so realistic. Speaking of, my favorite character by far was Captain Aerie Lockwood, she was a swashbuckling good time!
This by far is my favorite mash up of Peter Pan and the Little Mermaid, I can NOT wait until book two, I feel like I’m going to be twiddling my fingers for a bit. Do yourself a favor and give this book a read, hopefully we’ll see each other in the tides while waiting for the next.
A Sea of Unfortunate Souls is a Little Mermaid meets Peter Pan retelling, and holy smokes did this book deliver! I could not put it down, I finished this book in a day.
I loved everything about the way Jay R Wolf described her world, I felt like I was on the boat right along with the main characters. Speaking of the main characters, they were so flushed out… so realistic. Speaking of, my favorite character by far was Captain Aerie Lockwood, she was a swashbuckling good time!
This by far is my favorite mash up of Peter Pan and the Little Mermaid, I can NOT wait until book two, I feel like I’m going to be twiddling my fingers for a bit. Do yourself a favor and give this book a read, hopefully we’ll see each other in the tides while waiting for the next.
4.5 ★
I was captivated from the first sentence and hooked by the end of chapter one, no pun intended
I was captivated from the first sentence and hooked by the end of chapter one, no pun intended
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
This was a nice, short read but it left me wanting more.
Maybe for being such a short book, the plot and the characters weren’t as developed as I would like. There’s not enough worldbuilding and the one that existed was not properly explained.
It’s clear that the author was inspired by the little mermaid and other tales such as Peter Pan, and I personally loved that.
I really enjoyed Ari and Hook, but Pascal really stole the show. I needed more from each character tho, the plot moved too quickly and there wasn’t enough detail of the world and the plot. There was too much tell rather than show which I really disliked.
The writing was captivating and the overall plot was intriguing and left me wanting to keep reading. I’m really looking forward for the next!
This was a nice, short read but it left me wanting more.
Maybe for being such a short book, the plot and the characters weren’t as developed as I would like. There’s not enough worldbuilding and the one that existed was not properly explained.
It’s clear that the author was inspired by the little mermaid and other tales such as Peter Pan, and I personally loved that.
I really enjoyed Ari and Hook, but Pascal really stole the show. I needed more from each character tho, the plot moved too quickly and there wasn’t enough detail of the world and the plot. There was too much tell rather than show which I really disliked.
The writing was captivating and the overall plot was intriguing and left me wanting to keep reading. I’m really looking forward for the next!
Slow at first but then it picked up and I really enjoyed it. I was hoping there was gonna be alittle bit of arie and hook getting together. I hope the next one is about Peter pan and never land.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Overall I enjoyed this book, I will say it was a little difficult to be captured in it at first but once you get past the first few chapters it gets good. There are a few plot twist and moments where it keeps you on your toes and surprised. The characters are definitely my favorite part of the book. While reading it sometimes felt a little rushed however, knowing now at the end that each book will be it’s own retelling of a story makes sense and overrides that. I’m truly excited for the next adventure with the characters and being able to see their development even more.