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ali_w15's review
5.0
One of the best books I have read in a very long time. Visceral and profoundly feminist. A kick-ass tale that I would read again and again. Simply amazing!
barefootmegz's review
4.0
O'Neill's writing is remarkable in that she can make the reader viscerally uncomfortable - and she does it so well. When a book is marketed as a "feminist retelling", it often means that the sex/gender/sexuality of a protagonist is changed, or that it is written from a girls-kick-ass point of view. The Surface Breaks sets the old fairytale within the known patriarchy, but highlights the damaging narratives.
I usually like a bit more variation from the original in any kind of retelling. Another reviewer here said that this is more a "fleshing out" than necessarily a retelling, which is spot on. Still, a favourite of the year.
I usually like a bit more variation from the original in any kind of retelling. Another reviewer here said that this is more a "fleshing out" than necessarily a retelling, which is spot on. Still, a favourite of the year.
goldenslug's review against another edition
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism and Misogyny
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Rape, and Sexual assault
Minor: Fatphobia, Homophobia, and Eating disorder
ralphiereads76's review
2.0
Abandoned at 23%. Too slow and shaky character development. I didn't believe the instant-attraction-now-i-can't-eat-or-sleep trope. For being described as a feminist take on The Little Mermaid, I don't think the author's taking enough of a new direction. It's still a beautiful teen girl centered on the conflicts created by the men in her life. Her sisters are catty because she's the favorite. The grandmother, who might possibly have been a redeeming character, is spineless. Moving on.
For a feminist/antiracist take on The Little Mermaid, try THE DEEP by Rivers Solomon instead.
For a feminist/antiracist take on The Little Mermaid, try THE DEEP by Rivers Solomon instead.
booksandcwtches's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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
3.5
graces_book_history's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
patchworkbunny's review
3.0
The Surface Breaks is Louise O'Neill's retelling of The Little Mermaid. I have a love hate relationship with her writing but I thought her foray into fantasy might not be as bleak. The mermaid in question is Gaia, daughter of the Sea King, who is fast approaching the age where she can be married off.
The Sea King is all your misogynistic dictator stereotypes rolled into one. He believes that maids should be for looking at and making babies. He's a classic abuser personality, his daughters must choose their words carefully around him and he pits them against each other. He trades his youngest daughter to a war-mongering friend to help cement his position in court. Gaia is 15, her husband to be is an old man. It's really quite a grubby thing to read about.
On her birthday Gaia is permitted to swim to the surface despite the fact that her father hates humans and blames them for taking his queen. Not that him being a massive jerkwad would make her want to leave him. Gaia sees a human boy and saves him from the Salka, their mortal enemies. She is instantly besotted with him and can't stop thinking about him when she returns home.
I suppose the instalove represents a desire to escape her abusive home, but he could just as easily be as horrid as her betrothed, just younger. Anyway, you know the story, she gives up her voice so that she can go ashore. This isn't a pretty fairytale though and what she must endure to be with a man she doesn't know is extreme. The second half of the book is much stronger, it dwells a bit too long on the awfulness of merfolk society before it really gets going.
Slowly Gaia starts to question her choices. I loved the ending, it really rescued the book for me after wondering if it was just going to be another depressing outlook for women. I liked all the revelations and what Gaia finally chooses for herself. If you've ever worn shoes that have ripped your feet apart but continued to wear them, you will sympathise with Gaia, who puts up with pain in order to have the legs she thinks Oliver desires.
I do feel that feminist fiction can focus a lot on terrible things that happen to women. Why can't they be about amazing things women do or just lovely worlds where we have equality? I know the point of this is to show how the original story sets a terrible example, that you shouldn't be sacrificing yourself for a man you barely know, but it was a bit heavy-handed getting that point across.
The Sea King is all your misogynistic dictator stereotypes rolled into one. He believes that maids should be for looking at and making babies. He's a classic abuser personality, his daughters must choose their words carefully around him and he pits them against each other. He trades his youngest daughter to a war-mongering friend to help cement his position in court. Gaia is 15, her husband to be is an old man. It's really quite a grubby thing to read about.
On her birthday Gaia is permitted to swim to the surface despite the fact that her father hates humans and blames them for taking his queen. Not that him being a massive jerkwad would make her want to leave him. Gaia sees a human boy and saves him from the Salka, their mortal enemies. She is instantly besotted with him and can't stop thinking about him when she returns home.
I suppose the instalove represents a desire to escape her abusive home, but he could just as easily be as horrid as her betrothed, just younger. Anyway, you know the story, she gives up her voice so that she can go ashore. This isn't a pretty fairytale though and what she must endure to be with a man she doesn't know is extreme. The second half of the book is much stronger, it dwells a bit too long on the awfulness of merfolk society before it really gets going.
Slowly Gaia starts to question her choices. I loved the ending, it really rescued the book for me after wondering if it was just going to be another depressing outlook for women. I liked all the revelations and what Gaia finally chooses for herself. If you've ever worn shoes that have ripped your feet apart but continued to wear them, you will sympathise with Gaia, who puts up with pain in order to have the legs she thinks Oliver desires.
I do feel that feminist fiction can focus a lot on terrible things that happen to women. Why can't they be about amazing things women do or just lovely worlds where we have equality? I know the point of this is to show how the original story sets a terrible example, that you shouldn't be sacrificing yourself for a man you barely know, but it was a bit heavy-handed getting that point across.
tinynavajo's review
5.0
WOW!
Fantastic! I absolutely loved this book, it turned out so much better than I thought it would, especially how the beginning started! A feminist retelling of “The Little Mermaid” and so much more!
Fantastic! I absolutely loved this book, it turned out so much better than I thought it would, especially how the beginning started! A feminist retelling of “The Little Mermaid” and so much more!