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writingcaia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
With a little queer rep and a Caribbean slang and color we are told the story of a mermaid, Aycayia, that has lived under the sea for a thousand years due to a curse put on her by jealous women, her only company an old turtle-woman, cursed alongside her, and the fish and sea creatures, that is until she meets the young Black fisherman, David, and because of him gets caught by American fishermen.
But, David, enthralled by the lure of the mermaid, feeling she’s his destiny saves her and tries to help her, with patience and love, and with the help of the crazy white lady with the deaf son, descendant of the owners of the whole town, because she too knows of broken love, knows what it is to be apart, what it is to have a bright son misunderstood by the town’s people, just like Aycayia.
The story seems hopeful as the mermaid becomes more human and love brews between her and David, but will the curse and the town really let them be?
The story is told with a few POV and in two timelines, present and past when David met Aycayia.
With themes such as the ones I mentioned, the love stories - yes because there’s also the love between the white lady and the Black man who left her pregnant with a deaf son - and a beautiful lyrical writing I really enjoyed this read, even if it was slow going in the beginning and didn’t introduce or develop the turtle-woman Aycayia speaks so much about.
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Racial slurs and Sexual content
Minor: Ableism and Pregnancy
tlaynejones's review against another edition
2.5
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Colonisation
jahoffie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual assault
ajsteele1699's review against another edition
Graphic: Sexual assault and Violence
kate_lynn's review against another edition
2.0
Moderate: Sexual assault and Suicide attempt
careinthelibrary's review
3.0
Graphic: Sexual content
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
R****d ableist slurlydiature_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Sexual assault
lyssylyssy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Kidnapping, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Racial slurs, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Colonisation, and Classism
Minor: Body horror, Blood, Grief, and Alcohol
culown's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Suicide attempt
pkc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail