Scan barcode
bookcaptivated's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Violence, Body horror, Gore, Blood, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: War, Murder, Death of parent, Suicide, and Sexual assault
Minor: Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Grief, Lesbophobia, and Sexual content
jenmachin_'s review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
danajoy's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Death of parent, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Medical trauma, Gore, and Violence
persphones's review
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
From the get go, you can see how patriarchal and sexist the mermaid society is. It might be a bit too on the nose, but still, it works and it's a good critique.
The instalove trope is obviously there - it's the little mermaid, guys - and while a bit annoying, you can see some underlying tones that things will go wrong in the future for our protagonist.
Gaia (our Ariel) is a young girl who is in love with a pretty dude she has never met. That said, it can be kind of annoying, but that is kind of the point of the story.
I liked the construction of the mermaid society, but I do think the writing could have been a bit better. Again, a bit too on the nose for me, all the plot twists a bit too obvious and the foreshadowings were not that subtle.
I did like the book - I like retellings, especially dark ones, and I love the little mermaid original story. This one is as brutal and painful (and gorey, if that's not something you're into!) as the original.
But I Think Elana K Arnold's dark retellings set a standard too high for me to truly love this book.
Some CW for the book are rape, gore, violence.
Graphic: Gore, Sexual violence, Violence, and Child abuse
autumnal_daydreams's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This is a book that hits you over the head with inequality without having to do any of the heavy lifting. It has no time for nuance or developing deep characters or fully realising feminist themes.
If you love exposition dumps, being told rather then shown and black & white plots then feel free to read.
The author is inspired by the Bloody Chamber and I would urge you to pick up Angela Carter's work instead.
Graphic: Misogyny and Rape
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Body shaming, Death, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism and Homophobia